Here is the concept. There are dozens of projects going across Afghanistan, some great some not so great. My concept is to combine all aid projects under a single command.

The command will be led by a civilian, with experience in rural third world development and some military experience if possible. He will report directly to the commander of ISAF.

Under him will be three commands:

NGO Liaison Command - This will also be commanded by a civilian. The job of this forces is to coordinate efforts with NGOs in Afghanistan to prevent duplication and to provide support if the work of the NGO supports ISAF mission.

Security Command - Integral in the CRDC will be troops assigned to provide security for these projects instead of taking them from mobile units and units performing other missions. If possible they will draw from the Italian, French, German, Spanish and Turkish Command be led by a French or German General. They will provide security and support for operations.

Rural Development Command - Again led by a civilian but containing Civil Affairs units and Military Engineers. They will co-ordinate rural development projects using expertise from civilian and military personnel assigned. Basically they will be the PRTs of today, however they will identify projects and then recommend them up for civilian agencies such as USAID (and its foreign equivalents) to provide funding and expertise. All projects will be done this way so that communities get what they need rather than what a politician in Washington thinks they need.

This is to prevent projects in gender equality training taking precedence over building roads and clean wells. I know Alcotroll was complaining about that kind of thing.