Bobert:

If a department of Peace were to be created, say, it would have to be surely seperate fromt he Deprtment opf Defense, no? Perhyaps they could split the budget.

So here is the real puzzler of the ages.   A lot of brilliant analytical thought has gone into our systems of war, from bootlaces to smartbombs and satellites and sidearms and submarines. Amazing. What strategic and tactical programs should a Deparmtent of Peace pursue in order to address and defuse the root causes of violence among people??

Personally I think they would have to start with a long survey of successful Public Relations campaigns, the kind that have captured people's fancy and inspired voluntary enthusiasm. Then, they would have to do some similar analysis to identify the patterns that produce violence, including the influence of divisive rumor-mongering by third parties, for example, as a key mechanism often overlooked, and the promulgation of false ideas (AMericans eat babies for breakfast) and so on - a catalogue of key mechanisms and ways to address them.

A billion a year to start and you'd see results all across the planet within three to five years. And no angry widows, orphans or bereft parents!

So what other strategic targets should such a department pursue to be effective??

A