Medical Diplomacy in the United States Army

<p>Prior to the attacks of September 11th the United States Military founded defense plans on a threat-based model with the nation being prepared to conquer adversaries with the most advanced combat power. The 2001 attacks and subsequent Global War on Terrorism have led to a new geopolitical reality where military planners must increase US combat effectiveness in a new way by denying refuge to the terrorists who wish to defeat US troops as well as the Western way of life. Medical diplomacy is a nonlethal tool used in combination with economic and diplomatic efforts to achieve this end. The Army has engaged in activities labeled as medical humanitarian assistance throughout the 20th century with varying degrees of success. The current continuous low-level conflict makes a consistent effective plan for leveraging medical diplomacy a directed form of humanitarian assistance of paramount importance. When utilized effectively medical diplomacy can alleviate suffering as well as provide stability through economic development and legitimacy to the supported government. These actions collectively deny refuge to terrorists. This thesis will define medical diplomacy review its history in Army medicine and determine through qualitative analysis the characteristics of effective medical diplomacy. These characteristics will then be used to create a framework with which to evaluate current Army doctrine and lessons learned observations from OIF/OEF in regards to their adherence to sound principles of medical diplomacy.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>