Corruption and Global Basing

Abstract

Corruption is the most important issue facing global basing today because it creates tension between U.S. and host nation governments. The United States (U.S.) maintains an overseas presence for the security of U.S. interests and for the flexible and timely response to contingencies. In other words, its overseas presence is meant to provide stability around the world and not exacerbate instability. However, U.S. international basing leads to Calders concern about base politics and the dynamics between the U.S., the host nation, and the many variables between them. Vine quotes an Italian military analyst statement that US bases actually strengthen the political and economic power of criminal organizations and uses the Italian mob as an example of corruption that heavily-funded U.S. military bases can bring to areas around the world. Camp Humphreys construction in South Korea, Navy logistical port services in Southeast Asia, and uncompleted contractual obligations in Iraq and Afghanistan are additional examples of illegal activities surrounding U.S. global operations. Despite this seemingly rampant and worldwide corruption associated with U.S. global basing, there is no doubt that U.S. politicians and military leaders have nothing but good intentions with a heavily-focused overseas force posture. However, these same leaders must recognize the base politics they create with large military occupations and their subsequent contracts, understand the dynamics of the countries with U.S. military presence, and aim to mitigate negative repercussions of corruption might bring at global bases whenever possible. This paper explains why corruption is the most important issue facing global basing by explaining the need for global basing, providing examples of corruption, describing the variety of host nation conditions that allow corruption and can lead to instability, and offering solutions for U.S. leadership to root out corruption around its bases.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2020
Accession Number
AD1108149

Entities

People

  • Ryan Crowley

Organizations

  • Air War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Asia
  • Commerce
  • Construction
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Criminals
  • Department Of Defense
  • Governments
  • Local Governments
  • Military Operations
  • National Security
  • New York
  • Security
  • South Korea
  • Southeast Asia
  • United States

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.