Yes, this was posted about three weeks ago but I thought it was worthy of posting- especially in the featured sections.  Thoughts?

Eliminating USIP is unwise and unsafe

From TheHIll.com

By Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) - 05/25/11 11:26 AM ET

From a national security standpoint, the decision made earlier this year by Republicans in the House of Representatives to eliminate the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) was not only wrong, but unwise. This week, however, is witnessing something far worse. Now, Congressman Cravaack (R-Minn.) is proposing an amendment to the NDAA (H.R. 1540) to repeal the USIP act. 

This goes far beyond the vote on H.R. 1 earlier this year to zero out USIP federal funding (a mere $42 million, or 3 hours of Afghanistan war funding). The Cravaack amendment would eliminate USIP entirely, repealing Title VXII of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1985, which authorized the establishment of the United States Institute of Peace.

...USIP's advantage is its independence and its ability to navigate international conflict when government cannot intervene directly. USIP, then, brings back these lessons to Washington, providing extensive training for those who are deploying overseas or returning from the field.

The Institute's work is not always visible because it seeks to protect the people with which it works in conflict zones...

Read the full article [HERE]