UNITED STATES DECLARES AIDS EPIDEMIC A THREAT TO GLOBAL SECURITY

 

 

The social and economic effects of AIDS are being felt across the African continent. The disease has influenced every aspect of life within the continent and within each country. Now, it is being recognized by outside governments as a force that could the well-being of nations around the world.

 

 

 The AIDS epidemic is hitting all
segments of the Africa population
including the middle and upper classes,
wiping out a huge percentage of the
educated Africans including health
workers, teachers, government officials,
and military personnel. As a result, many
African countries are losing much of
their work force, hurting the economic
productivity of the countries. The
declining economic welfare of African
nations is expected to contribute to
political unrest in years to come.

 

 

 

 

US officials are concerned about AIDS for a number of reasons. The Central Intelligence Agency issued a report in January of 2000 entitled The Global Infectious Disease Threat and Its Implications for the United States. They express fear that diseases such as AIDS will endanger US citizens at home and abroad, threaten US armed forces deployed overseas, and exacerbate social and political instability in key countries and regions in which the United States has significant interests.


AIDS will reduce the strength of African armies, which will make them more susceptible to attack and less prepared to defend and serve their people. In some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS has infected a range from 10 to 60 percent of the military. This is considerably higher than their civilian populations and owes to risky lifestyles and deployment away from home.

 

 

   African countries have and will continue to spend large amounts of money battling the disease and dealing with its effects. This means less money allocated for other needs, such as development. The basic needs of the African people, especially the poorest of the population, are in question.

 The impact of the disease on international relations will be felt as greater restrictions are placed on travel and on immigration, and possible embargoes ensue. These limits on activity can cause tension between states. The tension is especially notable now as the threat of bioterrorism has increased and the United States and other countries fear attack from disenchanted parties.

 

The threat to national security also stems from the increasing number of orphans living in sub-Saharan Africa.

 
  These children are not expected to have many educational or employment opportunities, for many the only chance of survival will be crime. There is also concern that radical groups will solicit the youth for their organizations, increasing the political instability, and turning children into soldiers at a young age.

 The United States is also concerned about the impact this epidemic will have on countries in the Middle East and the newly independent Russian states that are trying to establish themselves. Chaos and unrest in Africa could spill over into these other neighboring countries, exacerbating the situation. Although Africa is the main currently, the United States is trying to look ahead to other areas of concern.


There are many questions that this situation poses, in regards to outside involvement and the impact of infectious disease on national security. Some of these are:


Is it the United States and United Nations responsibility to intervene and send aid to Africa?

Will their assistance make the situation worse, rather than better?

Should African countries deal with this issue themselves, and its ramifications, or should they be able to turn to other nations for help?

Is the increased aid coming too late?

Should the United States have increased its spending back when it was simply a humanitarian concern, rather than waiting until it became a security issue?

 

 

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 Page created by Sarah Heimel '00 and Amy Koler '02