Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan - An Argument for Objective Civilian Leadership and Control
Abstract
Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan provide an interesting example of civil-military relations. Born out of the exigencies of war, PRTs emerged to provide an interim civil-military organization able to stabilize the operational environment in an unstable/insecure province or locality through a combined diplomatic, military, informational and economic capabilities. PRTs, though tactical in effort, provide operational and strategic effects by linking stability and reconstruction efforts to U. S. national and UN/Afghan governmental objectives and priorities. The current PRTs in Afghanistan provide for military lead and control over assigned civilians - the integration and coordination of civil-military efforts in PRTs has been noteworthy. However, military control over an entity whose efforts are linked to USG national strategy and Afghan nation building strains civil-military relations, and usurps the foundational tenet of military subordination to civilian control. It is time to put a civilian face on USG stability and reconstruction efforts to ensure unity of effort/command in linking PRT efforts to USG and Afghan governmental objectives, and reassure the international community that the U.S. military is not 'designing or making' U.S. policy. It is time for objective civilian control of PRTs in Afghanistan.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- AD1019537
Entities
People
- Paul N. Shields
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College