In an August 28, 2008 editorial in the Washington Post, Charlie Wilson (of the film Charlie Wilson's War and adviser to the Center for U.S. Global Engagement) argues for increased development spending in the Middle East, and other war-torn and impoverished regions and countries, in the name of diplomacy and national security.  Using Afghanistan and Georgia as examples, Wilson comments that military support alone, without substantial investments in education, health, and economic development, will neither ensure peace and prosperity abroad nor will it protect U.S. national security.  He notes that 1 percent of the federal budget is spent on diplomacy and development; meanwhile, 22 percent of the budget is spent on the military and weapons.  "I know that we cannot rely on the military alone to keep us secure.  As the situations in Afghanistan and Georgia suggest, our future threats are likely to come from states that cannot meet the basic needs of their people.  We can avoid the need to spend so much on our military -- and put so many of our soldiers in harm's way -- simply by investing more in saving lives, creating stable societies and building economic opportunity." 

Click here to visit the Washington Post's website and read the full text of "Charlie Wilson's Peace."

Global Livestock has managed to secure some of the 1 percent of federal funding for development to support the PEACE project, Pastoral Engagement, Adaptation, and Capacity Enhancement in Afghanistan.  The PEACE project is focused on the development of the extensive livestock sector by supporting policy planning, pastoral land tenure conflict resolution, and introduction of GL-CRSP LEWS and LINKS technologies to improve rangeland management and livestock production and marketing. The project will also help build capacity of the Afghan government personnel responsible for planning and implementing livestock development and rangeland resource management. For more on the PEACE project, please visit:

GL-CRSP Afghan PEACE project and

The Afghan PEACE project's home page