Does Counterterrorism Militarize Foreign Aid Carla Martinez Machain

Does Counterterrorism Militarize Foreign Aid? Carla Martinez Machain, Kansas State University Jared Oestman, Kansas State University Questions How do security concerns affect the composition of U. S. foreign aid? Does the budget justification change? Does composition change? Changes in Budget Justification As al-Qaida moves into a state (or its “neighborhood), the aid allocated to the state will be justified through security arguments Changes in Aid Composition As al Qaida moves into a state (or its “neighborhood”), the recipient state will receive more military aid. As al Qaida moves into a state (or its “neighborhood”), the recipient state will receive less aid that goes to regime opposition. Aid as Counterterrorism • Aid used to bolster the capabilities of states fighting terror or to buy policy concessions in key regions. • Al-Qaida moves into a region states in the area increase in salience • Foreign aid justified in security terms • U. S. Government tailors aid to counterterrorism • Counterterrorism channeled through the executive • Less aid given to actors that stand in institutional opposition to the executive • Aid conditioned by cooperativeness Interviews • 1 st Brigade, 1 st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS • First regionally-aligned force for Africa. • Train African troops for counterinsurgency, peacekeeping. • According to interviews, policymakers are more likely to approve requests for US troops to regions they find relevant. • RAFs cooperate with NGOs • Both military and State Dept. workers report to the US Ambassador. • Planning for missions occurs less than a year in advance. For uncooperative states: Military aid increases after direct attacks. Congressional Budget Justifications for FY 2009 -2011 for 40 African states Measure words which reflect a security rationale: “military”, “security”, “militarized, ” “terrorism, ” “defense, ” and “national interests. ” For cooperative states: U. S. cuts funds to the opposition when neighborhood sees more al-Qaida activity.