Here to Help

Defense Department officials are eying a new kind of assistance for Iraq and Afghanistan beyond instructing the countries' security forces in tactical warfighting matters.

According to a legislative proposal sent to Congress last week, Pentagon officials want to be able to send a total of 38 civilian advisers to Baghdad and Kabul to aid in the development of more strategic-level thinking among defense ministry officials when it comes to stabilization and irregular warfare operations.

The cost would be $13.1 million for fiscal year 2010, according to the legislative proposal.