First, on thread: I agree that USAID needs major revitalization and effort. I agree that our foreign affairs effort and our foreign aid efforts need a great deal of work. I'm neutral at this time on Rupp and the proposal linked.

However, I have a question of the resident Academics:

I note the linked "The 'DFID Model': Lessons for the U.S." was published by John Hopkins. So was the precursor to the infamous and terribly flawed "Lancet" study on Iraqi deaths. Are both those not issue efforts and thus my question; is Johns Hopkins supporting issue efforts or academic inquiry?