Send in the Peace Corps

[LiberalAndProud]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/23/opinion/23SPIE.html?ex=1122523200&en=a08b9af042d42c56&ei=5070&ex=1059624000&en=ff07cfd60a001540&ei=5040&partner=MOREOVER&oref=login

By AVI M. SPIEGEL


Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's dreams of a leaner and meaner military, a smaller yet more modernized force, are in jeopardy. Faced with continued resistance in Iraq and peacekeeping duties in Afghanistan, Pentagon officials are now considering proposals to expand and restructure American forces amid fears that longer deployments will result in an overextended military.

Their focus may be misplaced. The question of how to reorganize the armed forces should be turned on its head: instead of making the military better at humanitarian assignments (in Iraq, Afghanistan and perhaps Liberia), humanitarian groups should strive to become more comfortable in military situations.

The Peace Corps, America's oldest overseas volunteer program, should equip itself to enter regions it now deems too dangerous. A force of trained and educated volunteers could improve its cooperation with the military and learn how to conduct itself in such settings.

With Congress debating spending on the Peace Corps and Americorps, it is time to update the Peace Corps' mission. Even in the face of mounting budgetary concerns, neither the military nor the Peace Corps is likely to react well to calls for a more active, less gun-shy Peace Corps.

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Peace Corps Budget FY 2005 -- $317 million

[greyl]

1. The Peace Corps is a cultural group before it's a humanitarian one.

The Question (ID Number 637)...

I have read your response about the Peace Corps and am rather disturbed. I am a Peace Corps volunteer (PCV) and I'm not sure how familiar you are with Peace Corps but corporation expansion is definitely not one of our goals. And PCV's are expected to integrate into their community not integrate the community to the "American Way". We are expected to encourage development on a grass roots level. I would even venture to say that Peace Corps encourages a leaver society. I think that your comment might discourage potential PCV's when your audience is exactly what the Peace Corps needs. I know this is not a question but I encourage you to re-think or at least research more your opinion on the Peace Corps.

...and the response:

You speak of being disturbed. I confess that it always disturbs me when people put words in my mouth and then ask me to defend them or disavow them. I have nowhere said that "corporate expansion" is one of the goals of the Peace Corps. Nor have I anywhere said or implied that Peace Corps volunteers are expected to integrate the communities in which they work to "the 'American Way.'"

You say that you're "expected to encourage development on a grass roots level." I don't doubt that for a moment. On the contrary, it's exactly my point. We want everyone in the world to be engaged in "development" (newspeak for exploiting natural resources to human advantage). And, judging from what you say, the Peace Corps is helping us realize this goal--with the best of intentions (of that I have no doubt).

__edit: added following________________________________________________

The Question (ID Number 372)...

I have a close friend who will be going off to the Peace Corps very soon. It seems to me that the Peace Corps spreads Mother Culture's whisperings where they don't belong much as missionaries spread religion in "primitive" cultures. How do you see this?

...and the response:

I agree. The Peace Corps are the advance troops of the One Right Way
(ours), paving the road for Coca Cola, McDonalds, Sony, and Exxon.

http://www.ishmael.org/Interaction/QandA/list.cfm

So, it shouldn't be a shock if Rummy sees the Peace Corps as a resource.