A Steep Hill: Congress and U.S. Efforts to Strengthen Fragile States

From the Center for Strategic & International Studies:

The difficulties experienced during U.S.-led interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq have once again placed troubled states at the forefront of the U.S. national-security agenda. While there is general recognition of the importance of rebuilding states so they do not pose a threat to international security, U.S. capabilities still require significant reforms if they are to meet the challenges of the future. Congress can—indeed, must—play a critical role in U.S.-led stabilization and reconstruction operations. But there are obstacles. In the words of one respected analyst of Congress, “most members of Congress are genuinely ambivalent about their role in foreign policy: they often want to be involved and influential but not always held responsible or accountable.” Lingering memories of events such as Vietnam, the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon, and the “Black Hawk Down” disaster in Somalia make elected officials nervous. More recent experiences in Afgha! nistan and Iraq have only increased the political vulnerability of members supporting stabilization and reconstruction operations."  [RJ]