CERP spending

A good report on CERP spending appeared in the PRISM magazine (from the National Defense University) from March. It's one of the more balanced and insightful discussions about CERP spending. The debate about CERP spending is unending because there is no theory or reliable research being done to support the theory and inform a strategy. So there are many opinions, stated firmly and provocatively, but only partially informed. Get two people together over a cup of coffee with opinions on CERP and you have an automatic debate. In the end they each might be using the words "CERP spending" but talking about completely different contexts, uses, goals and outcomes. However, it will sound like a cogent debate. That's why we need more study, and less polemics (refering to my 2-part complaint about the Congressional report on foreign assistance).