While our international affairs budgets have declined, the need for diplomacy has not. To the contrary, the need for diplomacy is increasing. As a nation, we are all aware of the primacy of national security. However, our political system increasingly defines national security largely in military terms. National security depends heavily on diplomacy.
Diplomacy is, in fact, our first line of defense.
While such a budgetary shift would have some impact on defense or other domestic programs in the short term, that impact would be far less than the potential impact of shortcomings in our diplomatic capability in future years. This is a matter of national security, and the consideration of these needs must begin now. Only by speaking out and explaining our concerns will we insure that elected officials know there is a constituency that wants U.S. engagement abroad and a strong Foreign Service. Diplomacy is the most cost-effective method to engage in and influence the world. Among the tools available to meet new challenges, diplomacy is a front-end investment that, with the proper resources, can prevent the use of the more costly tools of covert intelligence or military engagement.