The USG and the future of Europe

The International Herald Tribune reports that the State Department is now sending young European Muslim leaders as participants in its official visitor program to the United States. In France, some 25-30 people go on these exchanges each year, of which a dozen are of Muslim origin. According to a spokesman at the Paris Embassy, one goal is to reach out to minorities to whom "America has become a voodoo doll." Another is to get to know "the future movers and shakers of Europe."

Maybe that last reason is why, when French media discovered this program, they branded it as "CIA in the suburbs." As one participant noted, French elites, unlike Americans, have trouble imagining minorities as future leaders. White French politicians who have gone to the United States on this program have not been accused of working for the CIA.

These exchange programs are probably the best bang for the buck among all U.S. assistance programs. The trick is to pick the right people. It's higher risk to send people from the Muslim sections where rioting occurred, but the quotes from participants in this article suggest that the trips have not been wasted. (Thanks to Islam in Europe.)