Accounting for Middle East Studies Bucks
Reader comment on item: Defund Middle East Studies

Submitted by Tim Hunter (United States), Feb 24, 2004 at 11:39

Though there have been a precious few examples of good use of the funds; easily
95%+ of the funds Congress is spending on Middle East Studies is used to support a culture of academic terrorism. We should not be worried about "throwing out the baby with the bathwater." Those few instances of good use of funds can be saved and restored from other programs naturally closing down according to the cycle of academic management at each institution.

The idea of a review board to oversee the funds before dispersal - this idea is well intentioned but impracticable. I could speak for hours on the subject - having been a Federal official and a member of the US Council on Continuing Education. These boards tend to be composed of members from intensely parochial backgrounds with little familarity with the subject matter; OR, they are composed of those too close to the need for funds to appear independent.

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