| Defense and State Departments should perform USIP's public role SupportiveArgument1 #99107 The US Defense and Diplomatic establishment should perform USIP's publicly funded peacebuilding role. |
Congressmen Jason Chaffetz and Anthony Weiner, writing in the Wall St Journal, argue that: "The USIP has a role to play in our modern world, but the level of taxpayer support that this private organization receives is excessive. Since 1985, taxpayers have forked over more than $720 million (inflation adjusted). That has included support for a gleaming new 150,000 square foot office building in the shadow of that other taxpayer-supported institution devoted to peace: the State Department.
President Obama has applauded recent pledges by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to eliminate billions in unnecessary defense spending, but these cuts feel like a tough sell when we're using taxpayer money to fund a private organization. Our defense and diplomatic establishment has helped promote stability for hundreds of years, and it should be the place we invest taxpayer dollars intended to further peace."
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