Toward the beginning of 2005, the US government began creating local community "working group" in an attempt to bring together US leaders and local Iraqi citizens, including businessmen, tribal sheikhs and religious leaders. The idea shot through the leadership chain like wildfire, and now the US government intends to expand its provincial outreach programs, which are now officially called Provincial Reconstruction Development Committees (PRDCs).
According to the State Department, "the Embassy has encouraged formation of PRDCs in each province.” They are “composed of Provincial Council members, representatives of the Governor, and the local Director’s General of the national ministries. PRDCs have been established and held initial meetings in all fifteen provinces that are not part of the Kurdish Regional Government group of provinces. Initial steps included comprehensive discussions with provincial government officials, the ITG, Iraqi political leaders and other donors."
To help the PRDCs, the US government hopes to assign Provincial Support Teams (PSTs) to each province. The PSTs are staffed with US government employees. The State Department hopes that "by implementing reconstruction efforts based on the priorities of elected representatives through the PRDC, we are strengthening the very foundations of cooperation between the provincial and national governments that will help Iraq move forward."
I was told that the US tried the same idea during Vietnam. Apparently, it didn't work very well. However, I have been able to find any specific information. The closest thing to the PST/PRDC that I could find was the CIA/USAID Civil Operations and Rural Development Support Program.
Posted by alohafromtim
at 11:39 PM EDT