Did you know that the Pentagon has more musicians in its military bands than the State Department has diplomats?
The State Department’s lack of capacity has translated into the Department of Defense filling in the cracks. The result? U.S. foreign policy relies heavily on defense policies rather than peaceful tools to prevent conflict before it starts. This trend is perpetuated by the State Department’s small budget and greatly reduced capacity to respond to emerging crises. A well-trained and resourced diplomatic corps is the first line of prevention – and the best chance we have of making the slogan “never again” a global reality.
Mennonite Central Committee, along with other NGOs, recently produced a resource that details how diplomacy can prevent conflicts before they begin. Click here to read more.
MCC Washington Memo 