Humanitarian aid gives America's image a boost

"Regrettably, the record for all of the economic assistance programs is inconclusive at best," he wrote in an opinion piece for National Review Online. "At worst it can be counterproductive and is often used by entrenched regimes to retain power."

In a recent opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., acknowledged "cutting foreign aid has always been a guaranteed applause line." He argued, though, slashing the budget would be short sighted.

"We can't be strong at home if we aren't strong in the world," he wrote.

The foreign policy budget finances counterterrorism efforts that improve American security, he wrote. By contributing to international financial institutions like the World Bank, the United States not only improves the economies of developing countries, but also opens markets for American businesses. By helping stabilize other countries, the United States is investing in a more peaceful future.

"We know the difference we can make," he wrote. "Paired with forward-thinking diplomacy, development programs can help turn old enemies (like Vietnam) into new friends, and turn friends (like South Korea) into partners that share the burdens of leadership."