Bellarmine DR – Affirmative – MEDFLAGS
Contention 1 – the Status Quo
A MEDFLAG was recently deployed to Nigeria
Melancon 2006 [Dave, Special to American Forces Press Service, “Medflag ’06 clinics see 2,000 beninese patients,” September 19]
Medical Task Force...Ghana and Senegal.
However a lack of long-term commitment and follow-up procedures prevents efficacy
Pruden 2006 [Paul W., Lieutenant Commander, Medical Service Corps, United States Navy, “Should Medical Humanitarian and Civic Assistance Activities Focus on Building Public Health Capacity in Africa to Better Influence Theater Security Cooperation Objectives?” 2/13]
DSCA was able...have minimal impact.”
Thus the Plan:
The United States Department of Defense should establish a prolonged Medical Conflagration exercise with follow-up protocol in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Contention 2 – Hegemony
First, A US military presence in Africa is inevitable
Berrigan 10/6 [Frida, “The New Military Frontier: Africa,” 2007]
Most Americans have...human rights abuses.
Scenario 1 is Nigerian instability – The country is on the verge of collapse
Pham 2007 [J. Peter Ph.D., World Defense Review columnist, “Decision Time in Nigeria,” Strategic Interest, April 19]
Professor John Paden...and the Potomac.
And this would force the hand of America, necessitating large-scale military intervention
Kern 2006 [Soren, Senior Analyst, the US and Transatlantic Dialogue, Elcano Royal Insitutute, “How the Demand for Oil Drivers American Foreign Policy,” June 23]
West Africa has...to protect it.
And humanitarian interventions devastate military readiness
Spencer 2K [Jack, Policy Analyst – Heritage Foundation, “The Facts About Military Readiness”, 9-15]
In spite of...a major war.
Scenario 2 is basing – Nigeria is moving to block a US lily pad in the Gulf of Guinea – suspicions of American motives abound
Taiwo 9/14 [Juliana, “Nigeria Moves to Halt US Military,” This Day Online, 2007]
The Federal Government...in the gulf.
And lily pads are crucial to power projection, overall hegemony, and regional stability
Halvorsen 2005 [Lieutenant Peter, US Naval Institute Proceedings, “Making a Case for Naval Lily Pads,” Vol. 131, Issue 3, March 20, p. 84-86, Proquest]
Ongoing U.S. military...in the region.
And hegemony is the gateway for all positive externalities – a world of primacy is comparatively a world of stability
Thayer 2006 [Bradley, professor of security studies at Missouri State, The National Interest, “In Defense of Primacy”, December, p. 32-37]
A grand strategy...of a blitzkrieg.
Contention 3 – Bird Flu
First, a global avian pandemic is inevitable and imminent
Chicago Daily Herald 2006 [August 21, “Expert: Massive Flu Pandemic Is Imminent”]
Sometime in the...kind of transmission.
And Nigeria is the new hot spot – mutations are on the brink
CNN 2006 [“Nigeria fights bird flu with blunt knives, bare hands,’ February 17]
Bird Flu has ...virus to thrive.
We’ll isolate 2 impacts – First, an avian pandemic would kill half the world in days
Barnes 2005 [Ethne, Research Assistant in Paleopathology, Wichita State, 2005, Disease and human evolution, p 427-8]
Human history is...days or weeks.
Second, an avian pandemic collapses the global economy
Branswell 2005 [Helen Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, http://www.cbc.ca/cp/business/050816/b081692.html]
A major Canadian...on the safe side.
And that causes extinction
Beardon 2K (TE, Director, Association of Distinguished American Scientists, 'The Unnecessary Energy Crisis", 6-24)
History bears out...for many decades.
Contention 4 – Solvency
A MEDFLAG operation would stabilize Nigerian public health capacity, reducing the probability of otherwise inevitable larger U.S. interventions
Fox 1998 [C. William, M.D., Command Surgeon – Joint Readiness Training Center, “Phantom Warriors”, Parameters, Winter]
The absence of...to such challenges.
And MEDFLAGs resonate with African governments and generate goodwill that spills over
Henk 1998 (Dan, member of USAF Institute for National Security Studies and professor of African Affairs at USMA/Army War College, March, “Uncharted Paths, Uncertain Vision: US Military Involvements in sub-Saharan Africa in the Wake of the Cold War,” March]
In 1987, the...its regional involvements.
And military training operations are key to invigorating US-Nigerian cooperation
Sisk 1996 [Timothy, Brookings Institute Program Officer, “Future U.S. Engagement in Africa. Opportunities and Obstacles for Conflict Management,” July]
Several participants suggested...internationally acceptable behavior.
And a MEDFLAG would provide crucial health assistance for preventing a bird flu outbreak in Nigeria
Campbell 2006 (John, US AMB Nigeria, http://abuja.usembassy.gov/sp_09042006.html)
MEDFLAG 2006 is...influenza, and malaria.
And an expanded MEDFLAG is a uniquely effective way to spur coordinated approaches to public health
Fox 1998 [C. William, M.D., Command Surgeon – Joint Readiness Training Center, “Phantom Warriors”, Parameters, Winter, http://www.carlisle.army.mil/USAWC/PARAMETERS/97winter/fox.htm]
Addressing the root...involving entire subregions.
MEDFLAGs cost political capital – partisanship and bureaucracy needs to be pushed to consider “out of area” operations
Center for Democracy and Development 1999 [“Conference Report: COLLECTIVE REGIONAL SECURITY IN WEST AFRICA”]
In her contribution... among policy makers.
Country focus – selecting the host country triggers political battles
Carroll 2001 (Colonel Terry, “Engagement or Marriage: The Case for an Expanded Military Medical Role in Africa”, Army War College Strategy Report)
More basically, the...our African investment
MEDFLAGs cost political capital
Carroll 2001 (Colonel Terry, “Engagement or Marriage: The Case for an Expanded Military Medical Role in Africa”, Army War College Strategy Report)
We’ve seen... the world’s children.
Military medical funding is empirically popular in congress
Quigley 2005 (Samantha , "Military Surgeons General Applaud Congress for Helping Advance Care", May 11, http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=31678)
Military surgeons general.. document that personally."
Aid to Nigeria is popular – perceived as stabilizing and contributing to democracy
House Committee on Foreign Affairs 2007 (“Lantos, Key Members of Foreign Affairs Committee Urge Nigerian Government to Conduct Free, Fair and Peaceful Elections.”)
Chairman Tom Lantos...for all Nigerians.”
Bird flu prevention is bipartisan
International Herald Tribune 2005 [June 7]
At the moment... ability to act.
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