There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate upon, real favors from nation to nation.1
As the United States embarks on a war against terrorism, it is instructive to recall George Washington's 1796 farewell address warning. Nations will act only in their perceived self-interests. Assistance from other countries comes with a cost. Note, for example, the U.S. restructuring of Pakistan's $ 379 million bilateral debt to reward its cooperation in the fight against the Taliban and the al Qaeda terrorist network.2
U.S. international assistance, like that of other countries, typically promotes strategic and national security objectives. Thus, with the end of the cold war, it was not surprising to see U.S. international assistance decline. With the beginning of a war on terrorism, we can expect to see a rise in foreign assistance.
[Editors' Note: In June 1992, at the United National Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, the nations of the world formally endorsed the concept of sustainable development and agreed to a plan of action for achieving it. One of those nations was the United States. In August 2002, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, these nations will gather in Johannesburg to review progress in the 10-year period since UNCED and to identify steps that need to be taken next. In anticipation of the Rio + 10 summit conference, Prof. John C. Dernbach is editing a book that assesses progress that the United States has made on sustainable development in the past 10 years and recommends next steps. The book, which is scheduled to be published by the Environmental Law Institute in June 2002, is comprised of chapters on various subjects by experts from around the country. This Article will appear as a chapter in that book. Further information on the book will be available at www.eli.org or by calling 1-800-433-5120 or 202-939-3844.]
Royal Gardner is a Professor of Law and the Director of the Graduate and International Programs at Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. He thanks Magaly Arias and Pamela D. Burdett for their research assistance. Comments on this Article may be sent to gardner@law.stetson.edu.
