Great to learn that President Obama and Dimitry Medvedev of Russia signed the “new START” treaty this week in an effort to reduce the number of nukes by one-third. It is just a start but a solid one with proliferation and a complete breakdown between US and Russian relations during the previous administration. Is the world safer? Not really, but at least the big boys are talking, agreeing to keep a lid on things and and an eye on new entrants into the nuclear bomb family of nations.

Simultaneously, a bill is coursing through Congress to put some more money into creating Peace Corps jobs that I believe should have a Department of Labor contribution in it. Is the “More Peace Corps” bill a State Department activity? Of course. But isn’t also a smart way to boost unemployment in a small but meaningful way.  A couple of thousand PCV jobs are always welcome and these kinds of jobs are just what is needed. They build new skills, meet national security interests if deployed properly and send the signal that the US is investing in its people in creative ways.

The confluence of national security interests and reducing unemployment should not be a novel concept. I do not believe there is any linkage of this sort between the Departments of State and Labor. There certainly are linkages between the Departments of State and Defense but one more player at the table is needed.

Until we see foreign aid, the crippled economy and unemployment as national security issues, the kinds of action needed by Congress and the bureaucracies will be harder to come by and a signature of the way the US leads through creativity and innovation.