Noble welcomes U.S. policy shift

NEW YORK, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The head of Interpol has welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama's break from the Bush administration's military-led counter-terrorism policy.

Ronald Noble, Interpol secretary-general, during an address at New York University on Monday called Obama's inaugural address, which emphasized diplomacy and global police cooperation, a welcome policy shift.

Noble said it is increasingly important for the international community to devote the same amount of resources to reinforcing the global police infrastructure and diplomatic ventures as it currently devotes to a military-based strategy, Interpol reported.

"No matter how few or how many people are targeted or murdered by terrorists, the police, when properly trained, supported and funded, are capable of ensuring the safety and security of civilian populations around the world," Noble said in a statement.