Defense Secretary Robert Gates has called for increased funding to restore the State Department's leadership in rebuilding war-torn nations — a move that would allow the armed forces to take a supporting role.

His sentiments would reverse the recent practice in this administration of assigning to the military responsibilities that had been traditionally performed by civilian agencies, such as reconstruction programs.

The increased reliance on the military in recent years, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan, to perform such tasks has led to concern about the "creeping militarization of some aspects of America's foreign policy," which, Secretary Gates said, is "not an entirely unreasonable sentiment."

He was speaking at a dinner of the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign, a coalition of businesses and organizations supporting international programs.

Where foreign policy is concerned, Secretary Gates urged a lesser role for the military.

"Broadly speaking, when it comes to America's engagement with the rest of the world, it is important that the military is — and is clearly seen to be — in a supporting role to civilian agencies," he said.

Maintaining the respective roles of the State and Defense departments is important.

"The Foreign Service is not the Foreign Legion, and the U.S. military should never be mistaken for a Peace Corps with guns," Secretary Gates said.

Contrary to those who may be looking for a military victory in the war on terror, Mr. Gates said "we cannot kill or capture our way to victory."

Secretary Gates said that civilian institutions have been understaffed and underfunded since the Cold War ended.

The military is trained for combat. The State Department should foster economic and political development that can lead to more stable societies. That relationship and those roles should be restored.