Political Quotes

“Madam Chair, Congress created the U.S. Institute of Peace in 1984 as part of the Defense Authorization Act of 1985. Since that time, USIP has been active on the ground in diverse conflict zones around the world, among them the Balkans, Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Kashmir, Liberia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, and the Philippines. With conflicts continuing around the globe, the institute's expertise and independence is an important resource for both the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense to utilize in protecting our national security and in promoting our values of liberty and democracy. General David Petraeus stated it well in a 2009 letter to OMB: ``I write to underscore the importance of the U.S. Institute of Peace to the missions the United States is currently pursuing in Iraq and Afghanistan. While I have long been an avid reader of USIP's analytical products, which are second to none in tracking the challenges we face in both countries and in outlining policy options, I have more recently been impressed with USIP's on-the-ground peace-building efforts. USIP's experience working closely with the U.S.…”