U.S. global engagement keeps Americans safe, creates jobs

After 26 years of service in the U.S. Army, there's one thing of which I am certain: When lives are at stake, Americans put politics aside. With the presidential primaries taking place earlier than ever in Florida, and debate raging among politicians about what our priorities should be in these tough economic times, it is critical we find areas of common ground where we can come together.

One thing upon which members of both political parties can agree is the need to keep Florida safe and our economy growing. As a veteran and a business owner, I have seen firsthand one of the best ways to accomplish both goals is through American engagement and leadership in the world. Right now our country makes a small but critical investment of just about 1 percent of the entire federal budget in international affairs programming, but we receive a huge return. Not only are we saving lives around the world, but we are protecting our families at home by fighting terrorism and preventing conflicts before they start.

U.S. engagement in the world also helps us create jobs in Florida by opening fast-growing new markets to our local businesses. My Valrico-based business focuses on turning waste into energy. I am as happy doing projects in Gainesville as I would be in Ghana. But there is no market in Ghana — yet. The way to create jobs in the United States is by building our access to new markets abroad. Even in today's charged political atmosphere, that is a win-win.

As a soldier who has spent time in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq, I have seen firsthand how our civilian development and diplomacy programs support our troops in the field. By stabilizing dangerous regions, stopping the spread of pandemic disease and reducing the type of desperate poverty that terrorists easily exploit, these programs are an essential element of a comprehensive national security strategy. In today's interconnected world, our military might alone is not enough to keep us safe. Too often in the last couple of decades, we have turned to the military to fix problems we failed to solve with the other elements of power. I would rather invest in a USAID schools program than deal with the results of a void filled by radical extremists — and I think my fellow soldiers would agree.

While I was serving as the deputy commander for civil affairs for Task Force Hawk in Kosovo, our team included several Harvard MBAs. I asked them to hold small-business training courses in the city of Gjilani. When questioned by the commanding general about my courses — which did not appear to be security-related — I explained that, in fact, developing local business owners was directly related to our security. With early support and training, these local mom-and-pop shops could start hiring and take disaffected young men off the street. This had the effect of reducing the recruitment into the Kosovo Liberation Army in the city of Gjilani. I would always rather use this kind of smart power than send a soldier into harm's way.

In addition to working on the ground, our investment in U.S. global leadership is an essential strategic component in a comprehensive foreign policy. When I worked for Gen. Tommy Franks at U.S. Central Command in Tampa, we focused on seeing the big picture. That's why I believe slashing funding for these key programs would be especially dangerous right now, given the critical moment in which we find ourselves.

As our troops begin to draw down from Iraq and Afghanistan, we need skilled civilians who are ready, willing and able to handle post-conflict resolution. If this void goes unfilled, the fragile gains for which our military men and women fought so hard would simply slip away. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates made it clear: "Without development, we will not be successful in either Iraq or Afghanistan."

So when politicians swing through Florida, making noise that leaves us feeling divided, let's focus on what brings us together: a smart, efficient way to create jobs and keep our country safe. Supporting a strong and effective international affairs budget is a bipartisan path forward essential to our foreign policy in today's interconnected world.