in 2002, cheney was appointed to the position of deputy assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, a pre-existing vacant post with an "economic portfolio", which is a mandate to promote investment in the region. amid reports, including a "new york times" editorial by paul krugman, saying that the job was created especially for her, state department spokesman richard boucher said that she had come recommended by then-secretary of state colin powell. "the sunday times" (london) reported that cheney's appointment was "the most intriguing sign that america is getting serious about middle east reform" and that the appointment was "a measure of the seriousness with which the administration was taking middle east programmes for literacy, education, and reform." the appointment followed publicized policy divisions between the vice president's office and the state department on middle east policy. in that position, she was given control of the middle east partnership initiative, designed to "foster increased democracy and economic progress in a troubled region." the program spent $29 million in 2002, increased to $129 million in the following year. cheney's task was to channel money to pre-screened groups, some of which were not identified publicly for fear of retaliations from extant governments they sought to undermine. for the budget year 2004, the project sought $145 million.