Bush Puts Rice In Charge Of Post-Conflict Strategy

Bush puts Rice in charge of post-conflict strategy

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14339312.htm

By Sue Pleming
14 Dec 2005 19:00:14 GMT

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The White House said on Wednesday it had put the State Department in charge of U.S. efforts to stabilize and rebuild nations roiled by war or civil upheaval, a move seen aimed at avoiding the inter-agency bickering that plagued the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq.

U.S. President George W. Bush signed the directive last week giving Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice the lead in stabilization and reconstruction missions, a White House statement said.

"(This will) empower the Secretary of State to improve coordination, planning and implementation for reconstruction and stabilization assistance for foreign states at risk of, in, or in transition from conflict or civil strife," it said.

The decision follows criticism of the Bush administration for poor planning after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Disagreement between the Pentagon and State Department over reconstruction and stabilization efforts was rife in the early months after the invasion.

The statement said these "improved capabilities" would enable Washington to assist foreign governments in preventing their territory from being used as a safe haven for "terrorists, organized crime groups" or others who posed a threat to the United States.

Inter-governmental agency bickering between the Pentagon and the State Department was legendary during the Iraq conflict, with both departments blaming the other for what experts say was very poor post-war planning.

The White House said when the U.S. military was involved in conflicts, Rice would coordinate her efforts with the Secretary of Defense "to ensure harmonization with any planned or ongoing U.S. military operations across the spectrum of conflict."

In addition, the United States would work with other countries and organizations to anticipate state failure and "avoid it whenever possible," said the statement.

The State Department's Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction Stabilization, led by Carlos Pascual, will spearhead the effort.

Melanie Anderton, a spokeswoman for that department, said the goal was to improve coordination across U.S. government agencies when a crisis arose and to map out strategy beforehand.

"Where we will focus is on conflict and trying to avoid conflicts and finding ways to help a country transition out of conflict," Anderton told Reuters.

Projects her office was currently working on included trouble zones Sudan and Haiti where teams were drawing up strategic plans on how to cope with crises in those countries.

Anderton said their office was not likely to take the lead in dealing with natural disasters and that the U.S. Agency for International Development would take the lead there.