Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

More Provincial Reconstruction Teams to Stand Up in Iraq
American Forces Press Service ^ | Donna Miles

Posted on 01/11/2007 4:14:46 PM PST by SandRat

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2007 – President Bush’s new strategy for Iraq includes expanding the number of provincial reconstruction teams from 10 to at least 18 in order to better support political and economic progress, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during a news conference today.

Rice joined Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in discussing some of the measures President Bush outlined in last night’s address to the nation about the new way forward in Iraq. The plan includes 20,000 more U.S. troops on the ground, increased responsibility for the Iraqi government and Iraqi security forces, and more diplomatic and economic initiatives.

“We will double the number of provincial reconstruction teams,” Bush announced last night. “These teams bring together military and civilian experts to help local Iraqi communities pursue reconciliation, strengthen the moderates, and speed the transition to Iraqi self-reliance.”

Rice told reporters today the State Department, which oversees PRTs in Iraq, is ready to move forward with this effort, with emphasis on the parts of Iraq where the teams are needed most.

“In Baghdad, we will go from one PRT to six, and in Anbar province, from one to three, because local leaders are taking encouraging steps there to confront violent extremists and to build hope for their people,” she said.

Getting more experts into Iraqi provinces to assist the leaders there “will enhance and diversify our chances of success in Iraq,” she said.

“The logic behind PRTs is simple,” Rice said. “Success in Iraq relies on more than military efforts; it requires robust political and economic progress.

“Our military operations must be fully supported and integrated with our civilian and diplomatic efforts across the entire U.S. government to help Iraqis clear, hold and build throughout all of Iraq,” she said.

Gates told reporters Bush’s new plan offers a better balance of U.S. military and non-military efforts than in the past. “We cannot succeed in Iraq without the important non-military elements Secretary Rice just mentioned,” he said.

The PRT concept was first successfully applied in Afghanistan after the Taliban government was removed from power, Robert Tillery, the chief of staff from the (Iraq) National Coordination Team who works with provincial PRTs throughout Iraq, told reporters in Baghdad during an October news conference.

PRTs in Iraq “enforce and bolster the ability of the provincial governments to lead and to respond to the needs of their people,” he explained.

“By helping local governments more effectively address the needs of their citizens, they will gain the support of their people,” Tillery said. “Citizen support and confidence in government institutions is critical to a successful democracy.”

Related Articles:
Iraqi Leaders Stepping Up to Meet Tough Challenges


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: frwn; iraq; prt; standup

1 posted on 01/11/2007 4:14:48 PM PST by SandRat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...
FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

2 posted on 01/11/2007 4:15:21 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson