The following article, originally published in Spanish in the February 8 edition of the Uruguayan daily La Republica, is in the public domain. There are no republication restrictions.

Frank E. Baxter, U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay.

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The United States: Mobilized to Help
By U.S. Ambassador Frank E. Baxter

Shortly before his groundbreaking visit to Uruguay in March 2007, President Bush delivered a speech in which he acknowledged a new direction in U.S. foreign policy. “We care,” was how he described his reasons for sending our country’s uniquely-qualified military doctors and medical teams to perform humanitarian and emergency relief work abroad, particularly in regions unaffected by combat. (See related article.)

The President’s simple yet eloquent phrase is very good news for communities that might not have the resources on hand to purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment and extra supplies, or build health facilities quickly and inexpensively. When he said that our armed forces will be “doing everything from vaccinating people against disease to building new medical clinics,” President Bush confirmed a trend that has been slowly underway for decades, but which his Administration has strengthened: the U.S. military is mobilized in the cause of peace. (See related article.)

President Bush recognizes that the U.S. Department of Defense has significant resources and experience, which can and should be channeled toward humanitarian purposes. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates reflected on the U.S. military’s commitment to helping civilians abroad in a speech he delivered last year, thanking his soldiers and personnel for “taking … burdens that might have been assumed by civilian agencies in the past … and doing an admirable job.”

This new direction in policy reflects the principle that the President believes must define government both in the United States and in other countries: “social justice begins with social trust.” To achieve this important goal, the Bush Administration expects us to work “with our partners to change old patterns and ensure that government ensures all its citizens.”

No one can reasonably find fault with the President’s belief that military-built hospitals and clinics are “a symbol of the great compassion of the American people and our desire to help those in our neighborhood who need help.” In fact, the clinic built through a Uruguayan-U.S. military partnership in Santa Catalina underscores this dramatic change in policy, as well as our ongoing desire to do something positive for our friends.

The Santa Catalina Clinic is the fruit of a US$ 1 million donation in funds and equipment from the United States and a commitment from our Uruguayan partners to make it work. This important facility is expected to treat 3,000 patients every month after it opens in March.

Uruguayans know their country better than anyone. Their country suffers no shortage of competent medical practitioners. Therefore, dedicated practitioners from this country will staff this medical facility, rather than foreign doctors. The Santa Catalina Clinic will have a state-of-the-art sonogram machine, new examination tables, and other donated supplies to serve patients in need, particularly expecting mothers.

I urge Uruguayans to view clinics like Santa Catalina’s as an example of the same U.S. good will and humanitarian impulse that saved untold thousands of tsunami victims in 2004. When that disaster struck, President Bush took advantage of the U.S. armed forces’ unique capabilities and sent 16,000 military personnel to the region, as well as an aircraft carrier, 60 helicopters, and a hospital ship.

The accounts of the hundreds of thousands of tsunami victims whose lives were saved by the U.S. military in the days after the disaster shows that President Bush acted decisively and correctly. Our armed forces built the emergency hospitals and provided enough drinking water to prevent outbreaks of malaria and other fatal diseases from occurring and claiming more victims.

The U.S. military knew how to act fast and saved so many victims because of the lessons they learned from building clinics like Santa Catalina’s. One of the best ways to master complex medical work abroad is through the experience of constructing these facilities, side-by-side with foreign military and health professionals in a friendly country.

In my experience, the best ambassadors strive to leave a positive legacy in the countries in which they serve. I view health clinics, dental facilities, and other humanitarian facilities as an enduring example of solid and growing ties, which I truly hope our friends here will accept. I am pleased to see the Santa Catalina Clinic up and running, and as a friend of this country, I would like to see more such facilities built here in the years to come. More resources are available, awaiting the people of Uruguay to ask for them.

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