Lessons on a Shelf
Abstract
Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Iraq have been largely successful but there have been substantial growing pains. The United States went through similar growing pains during the Vietnam War and after multiple reorganizations the pacification efforts were consolidated under a civilian deputy who reported directly to General Westmoreland. Ambassador Komer was the individual selected to run the pacification effort also known as the Civil Operations and Rural Development Support (CORDS) program. Regardless of how the Vietnam War ended there is substantial evidence that the CORDS program was working. This project looks to examine the CORDS experience and compare those efforts with the PRT experience in Iraq. The research reveals that many of the lessons learned in Vietnam were relearned in Iraq, particularly those dealing with unity of effort. The findings conclude that a careful review of the past operations is critical before new initiatives are tried in a combat zone and that in the future we can and should do better.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 23, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA500911
Entities
People
- Robert J. Ruch
Organizations
- United States Army War College