Jill Hagen & Rena Gilbertson PRO

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom. -Martin Luther King Jr.

Resolved: Development assistance should be prioritized over military aid in the Sahel region of Africa. We offer the following definitions: Development assistance- Provided by official agencies, including state and local governments, or by their executive agencies giving flows of official financing administered with the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development http://stats.oecd.org/glossary/detail.asp?ID=6043 Should- Used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness Compact Oxford English Dictionary 2012 Prioritized- To arrange or deal with in order of importance American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 2012 Military aid- Grants, loans, or credits to purchase defense equipment, services, and training. Often military aid is "tied," in that recipients must use the funds to buy defense goods and services from the donor. The aim of military aid is to assist recipients with a variety of security threats such as international war, internal rebellion, or terrorism. The Encyclopedia of World Economy Sahel Region of Africa- A semiarid region of western and north-central Africa between the arid Sahara Desert to the north and the belt of humid savannas to the south. Since the 1960s it has been afflicted by prolonged periods of extensive drought. American Heritage Dictionary 2012 In order to win this debate, the Pro must prove that development assistance is more important than military aid in the Sahel Region of Africa by showing that military aid is the root cause for development assistance and that in turn, it can cause an entire economic downfall.

Contention 1.) Focusing on military efforts is the root cause of the need for development assistance, and is also causing the U.S. to second-guess whether or not they will pursue its counterterrorism policies with Africa.

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Jill Hagen & Rena Gilbertson PRO

As Princeton N. Lyman, former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and South Africa, former Asst. Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs wrote, Two major challenges now loom in the African and American responses to terrorism. Generally, many Africans and some American critics are very concerned that the new Africa Command and other U.S. anti-terrorism programs signal an increased militarization of U.S. policy in Africa. These critics argue that only a continual intensive attack on the root causes of terrorism and violence, that is, poverty, authoritarianism, discrimination, weak states, and similar conditions, will effectively combat such threats. They contend that a focus that relies too heavily on security will encourage authoritarian practices and undermine Africas move toward more democratic governance. The style and focus of the unified Africa Command will be a closely watched measure of whether the United States pursues its counterterrorism policies. with the requisite sensitivity, breadth of programming, and balance that is required.

Contention 2.) Development Assistance saves lives. The Economic Community of West African States sent a distress call Tuesday to the international community declaring that more than 6 million people are at risk of hunger in the Sahel region of Africa, including more than a million children exposed to severe malnutrition, compared to the mear 300,000 each year due to terrorism. "The situation is very alarming in the Sahel and, if nothing is done, millions may die from hunger," said Niger's minister for food security, Amadou Diallo. Diallo blamed the "alarming situation" on poor harvests, widespread drought and soaring food prices; a worse economic state overall. He said political turmoil in northern Mali had aggravated the situation, displacing nearly 300,000 people, including more than 160,000 who have migrated toward Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania.

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Jill Hagen & Rena Gilbertson PRO

Research by Harvard University shows that (quote) higher adult mortality is associated with higher fertility, and lower investment in physical and human capital. Furthermore, the feedback effect from economic prosperity to better health care implies that mortality could be the source of a poverty trap. In our regressions, adult mortality explains almost all of Africas growth tragedy. By sending developmental aid we can ensure that people are not starving or dying of disease while at the same time sowing seeds for later generations to finally take the necessary steps to improve themselves.

Contention 3.) Economic growth for the United States. This is because, as nations develop, (such as the Sahel Region) they become more active trade partners. Economic growth is important for a variety of reasons, such as because trade relationships deter wars, growth improves American power projection internationally, or because prosperity increases quality of life for citizens overall. Foreign aidalong with diplomacy, trade, intelligence, national defense, and other tools of statecraft plays an indispensible role in furthering Americas strategic, economic, and moral objectives throughout the world. If the United States is to remain a global leader in the 21st century, then it is critical that the President and Congress work to sustain investments in civilian foreign assistance commensurate to Americas interests and values. Critics often fail to appreciate how U.S. foreign aid can help to create opportunities for American companies and exports by opening markets and encouraging economic liberalization. As then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton elaborated in July 2011:

The 1 percent of our budget we spend on all diplomacy and development is not what is driving our deficit. Not only can we afford to maintain a strong civilian presence; we cannot afford not to. The simple truth is if we dont seize the opportunities available today, other countries will. Other countries will fight for their companies while ours fend for themselves. Other countries will promote their own models and serve their own interests instead of opening markets, reinforcing the rule of law, and creating widespread inclusive growth. Other countries will create the jobs that should be created here, and even claim the mantle of global leadership. None of us want to see that happen, and I dont believe most of the people around the world do either.

- See more at: http://www.foreignpolicyi.org/content/fpi-analysis-foreign-aid-advances-us-securityprosperity-and-global-leadership#sthash.vWUQUaXP.dpuf

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