Eli Clifton on the "Building Global Partnerships Act of 2007" which not only expands Pentagon security and militia aid programs in some countries, but is essentially immune from Congressional oversight. Is this REALLY how we want to run our country, where miitarism has no accountability?

The Pentagon's desires to set its own foreign aid policy independent of the state department and Congress has led a number of analysts to question the consequences of a Pentagon-led foreign aid policy with little or few restrictions.

"If you're giving aid to undesirable countries, by human rights standards, it usually backfires on you," said Eland. "It may provide short term benefits in the 'war on terror', but the long-term consequences may be unclear."