Mr. Vasquez's point entirely ignores the threat the new policy poses to his agency's credibility and the volunteers' safety. In 2003, a Dayton Daily News series "Casualties of Peace" documented how volunteers often have not been adequately supervised and prepared, thereby putting them at risk. If the new national service law isn't amended, any dangers they face could be compounded if volunteers are perceived as doubling as military or intelligence agents.
Keep Peace Corps demilitarized says Dayton Daily News
Keep Peace Corps demilitarized
Aug 21, 2005
Dayton Daily News
CONGRESS' MOVE CONJURES UP THE SCENE IN
the classic Cold War comedy, Dr. Strangelove, in which national security advisers arguing about nuclear weapons are scolded: "You can't fight here! This is the war room!"
The comic irony this time is deadly serious. It comes in recently enacted legislation that would permit armed forces recruits to fulfill part of their service obligation with a tour as a Peace Corps volunteer.
A growing number of Peace Corps advocates and alumni object. They point out that the agency, since its inception in 1961, has been kept separate from defense and intelligence agencies -- and for good reason. Peace Corps volunteers' safety could be jeopardized if they are perceived to be military or intelligence agents; often they serve in countries where people are suspicious of American motives.
Here's how the Peace Corps was been put in this position: U.S. Sens. John McCain, R-Arizona, and Evan Bayh, D-Indiana, have been pushing a bill that would expand opportunities for young people to perform national service. Their worthwhile program, which has bipartisan support, is called "National Call to Service."
The bill started as stand-alone legislation, but then was quietly included as an amendment to the massive defense budget bill. The troubling detail is in a provision that enables the military to market Peace Corps service as a way to boost lagging recruitment efforts. Peace Corps service has been added as an option for completing the longer eight-year reserve military obligation.
Former Defense Department official Frank Gaffney, in a recent television interview, was blunt about the Peace Corps option's purpose beyond recruiting: using the former military personnel for intelligence services.
This kind of talk confirms many Peace Corps advocates' worst fears. Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez tried to calm things down by saying military personnel wouldn't be eligible to join the Peace Corps until they have completed active duty, and that the Peace Corps already takes on volunteers with prior military service.
Mr. Vasquez's point entirely ignores the threat the new policy poses to his agency's credibility and the volunteers' safety. In 2003, a Dayton Daily News series "Casualties of Peace" documented how volunteers often have not been adequately supervised and prepared, thereby putting them at risk. If the new national service law isn't amended, any dangers they face could be compounded if volunteers are perceived as doubling as military or intelligence agents.
But the threat doesn't end there. The whole Peace Corps mission is premised on civilian, person-to-person diplomacy. That noble work is undermined by mixing this service with military responsibilities.
