Guardian interviews USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah

The Guardian examines USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah's role in U.S. development policy and looks at some of the domestic challenges he faces.

"On the logo of USAID, it says 'from the American people,' but our work has to be seen as 'for the American people,'" Shah told the Guardian. "Development is a fundamental part of our national security. It is extreme poverty - the realities of access to water and food - which creates the long-term drivers of our insecurity. Most wars are fought over scarce resources, and that is going to accelerate in the future. The food spike of 2008 led to food riots and instability. Bob Gates [the outgoing secretary of state for defense] has said, 'It is cheaper to do development than to send soldiers.' Admiral Mike Mullen [chairman of the joint chiefs of staff] is one of our strongest advocates" (Bunting, 6/15).