Cross Roads or Cross Purposes? Tensions Between Military and Humanitarian Providers

Abstract

In 2006 to 2007, Army Lieutenant Colonel James L. Cook was the CJ3 (Deputy for Plans and Operations) for Combined Joint Task Force 76, covering Regional Command South and RC East in Afghanistan. His command controlled most of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams, and all of the American PRTs operating in those areas of responsibility. Troubling to LTC Cook was the level of redundancy of aid and assistance programs undertaken by the military, government agencies, and the NGO community. He was confused as to why: "as operators, it was so difficult to get everyone to row together" and divide responsibilities to most efficiently and effectively use the limited resources at hand. Although he found levels of access to and cooperation with NGOs varied from project to project and NGO to NGO, Cook felt area-wide communication and cooperation were less than he thought possible and NGOs were (largely) unresponsive to his staff's efforts to streamline the distribution of reconstruction and aid monies. Adapted from the source document.