Can Foreign Aid Help Win the War on Terror? (AEI)

Description:

The Bush administration has identified the long-term political and economic transformation of the greater Middle East as a cornerstone of its national security strategy. Yet despite rousing presidential rhetoric and increased funding for U.S. aid programs, it remains unclear how well-suited the traditional instruments of American statecraft are for this challenging new mission. In particular, questions remain about the extent to which the U.S. government should seek to promote democratic change from within, by supporting indigenous civil society organizations in countries like Egypt, Pakistan, and Iraq.