Part 3/9:
Further complicating this narrative is the ongoing conflict involving the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP). The USIP, established by Congress in 1984 with a budget around $55 million a year, claims to focus on preventing violent conflict and brokering peace deals. However, Hammer criticizes the efficacy of the institute, likening it to a "deep state" entity, populated by career bureaucrats who do not serve the public interest.