Budget focuses foreign aid against terror
The budget request for the State Department for 2004 reflects the changing foreign policy priorities of an administration set on winning the global war on terrorism and the hearts and minds of the countries where terrorists recruit. It includes $30 million to launch the Middle East Television Network, an Arabic language satellite station. Also, the budget will double funding for the Voice of America’s Indonesia channel. A summary of the budget says the new request will redirect funding to “high priority programs for Near East Asia and South Asia.” Full Story