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Abstract:
Somewhere in the world today, a jeep winds its way through a remote region of a developing country. Inside are a State Department diplomat with deep knowledge of the area's different ethnic groups and a USAID development expert with long experience helping communities lift themselves out of poverty. They are on their way to talk with local councils about a range of projects-a new water filtration system, new ways to elevate the role of women in the community, and so on-that could make life better for thousands of people while improving local attitudes toward the United States. They are not strangers to this region, nor are they the only American officials to visit. Their mission is part of a larger coordinated strategy that draws on all the tools of our foreign policy. They have been preceded by colleagues from other agencies-irrigation specialists from the Department of Agriculture, public health professionals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, experts in the rule of law from the Department of Justice, and more. At the nearest U.S. embassy, our Ambassador manages a diverse and dedicated team drawn from across the U.S. government. Other U.S. posts around the region contribute insight and expertise. From Washington, colleagues are sending strategic guidance and resources. To build an effective partnership with their host country and advance America's interests and values, these U.S. civilians on the ground will often have to work as a seamless team, bringing their unique strengths to bear and adapting together to fast-changing circumstances on the ground. That is exactly what they have been trained to do. They are the leading edge of America's forward-deployed civilian power, as comfortable in work boots as wing tips, and they are on the frontlines of our country's efforts to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of the 21st century.
| Limitations: |
 APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE |
| Pages: |
243 |
| Report Date: |
2010 |
| Report Number: |
A222535 |
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