thedrifter
08-24-04, 06:21 AM
General drums up support for non-lethal weapons
Submitted by: MCB Hawaii
Story Identification #: 200481713351
Story by Pfc. Rich Mattingly
KUKULEGANGA TRAINING CAMP, Sri Lanka (Aug. 6, 2004) -- Flown in for the opening of the 2004 Non-Lethal Weapons Seminar Aug. 3, the Marine Forces Pacific Commanding General, was greeted by the Command Staff of the Sri Lankan Army.
Lt. Gen. Wallace C. Gregson was greeted by tabla drumming and traditional Sinhalese dancing courtesy of the Sri Lankan Army upon arriving at the conference site.
After the lighting of a ceremonial oil lamp, a Sinhalese custom derived from Buddhist tradition, by the command representatives of the 13 countries participating in this year's NOLES, Gregson thanked everyone for their attendance. He also shared his belief the United States had much it can learn from the experience of many of the nations attending the seminar.
"We're only the latest nation to become thoroughly entangled in this war against dedicated separatists and insurgents. We learn much from many of our colleagues among the armed forces of the Pacific nations and especially from Sri Lanka who has been fighting against an insurgent movement for a very long time," said Lt. Gen. Gregson.
Lt. Gen. Gregson briefly touched on the history and development of non-lethal tactics from operations during the UN's withdrawal from Somalia to the present. In the Nineties, the Marine Corps was named executive agent of the Department of Defense for non-lethal weapons, shortly after the DoD became engaged with developing tactics to deal with insurgents during wartime as well as missions other than war. Since then, the Marine Corps' Special Operations Training Group has steadily been developing non-lethal tactics, techniques and procedures, many of which have been taught to Sri Lankan Army and Police Special Task Force units over the past two weeks.
Following the seminar's opening remarks, Lt. Gen. Gregson and the other country representatives were shown an elaborate static display of various improvised explosive devices that had been used against Sri Lankan forces during Sri Lanka's 20-year campaign against the Tamil Separatist movement. The Tamil Tigers have been called the inventors of the suicide vest and martyrdom bombings, and despite the two year old memorandum of understanding currently bringing a ceasefire to Sri Lanka, recent bombings have shaken the stability and peace of the island nation. Speaking to the Marines from III MEF involved in the, Lt. Gen. Gregson touched on this and expressed a hope the training during NOLES 04 would reap great benefits for both the Marine Corps and Sri Lankan Forces.
"The IED's they've discovered here are the same as we're seeing other places. We might be fighting the students, but they're fighting the professors here. The relationship you build while you're teaching will be exceptionally valuable because there is a lot we can learn from the Sri Lankan forces."
Addressing the Sri Lankan forces after thanking the Marines for their participation, the general again stressed the importance of non-lethal tactics in modern warfare.
"What the terrorist is trying to do is portray our side as the ones killing innocent people. A lot of the things we can do with non-lethals involve separating the innocent bystanders and human shields from the people who are causing harm," said Lt. Gen. Gregson.
"We are well aware that you, the Sri Lankan Army and Sri Lankan Police force, have been fighting a very difficult enemy for over 20 years now. We want to have an exchange of views this week, and I ask you to push my Marines hard, make them work!" he continued.
The Non-Lethal Weapons Seminar 04 is set to conclude this weekend and will showcase the III MEF Marines and Sri Lankan forces using non-lethal tactics during a simulated riot. The Marines will then return home to Okinawa.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200481714235/$file/GeneralandIEDlow.jpg
Lieutenant General Wallace Gregson inspects improvised explosive devices recovered by the Sri Lankan Army during fighting with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam while Major General Sarath Fonseca explains some of the ways the insugents in Sri Lanka use terrorist tactics . General Gregson went on comment that if the insurgents the Marine Corps faces today are the students, then surely the LTTE are the professors in the subjects of terrorism and suicide bombing. Photo by: Pfc. Rich Mattingly
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/3B8CFD2149735C9885256EF300609706?opendocument
Ellie
Submitted by: MCB Hawaii
Story Identification #: 200481713351
Story by Pfc. Rich Mattingly
KUKULEGANGA TRAINING CAMP, Sri Lanka (Aug. 6, 2004) -- Flown in for the opening of the 2004 Non-Lethal Weapons Seminar Aug. 3, the Marine Forces Pacific Commanding General, was greeted by the Command Staff of the Sri Lankan Army.
Lt. Gen. Wallace C. Gregson was greeted by tabla drumming and traditional Sinhalese dancing courtesy of the Sri Lankan Army upon arriving at the conference site.
After the lighting of a ceremonial oil lamp, a Sinhalese custom derived from Buddhist tradition, by the command representatives of the 13 countries participating in this year's NOLES, Gregson thanked everyone for their attendance. He also shared his belief the United States had much it can learn from the experience of many of the nations attending the seminar.
"We're only the latest nation to become thoroughly entangled in this war against dedicated separatists and insurgents. We learn much from many of our colleagues among the armed forces of the Pacific nations and especially from Sri Lanka who has been fighting against an insurgent movement for a very long time," said Lt. Gen. Gregson.
Lt. Gen. Gregson briefly touched on the history and development of non-lethal tactics from operations during the UN's withdrawal from Somalia to the present. In the Nineties, the Marine Corps was named executive agent of the Department of Defense for non-lethal weapons, shortly after the DoD became engaged with developing tactics to deal with insurgents during wartime as well as missions other than war. Since then, the Marine Corps' Special Operations Training Group has steadily been developing non-lethal tactics, techniques and procedures, many of which have been taught to Sri Lankan Army and Police Special Task Force units over the past two weeks.
Following the seminar's opening remarks, Lt. Gen. Gregson and the other country representatives were shown an elaborate static display of various improvised explosive devices that had been used against Sri Lankan forces during Sri Lanka's 20-year campaign against the Tamil Separatist movement. The Tamil Tigers have been called the inventors of the suicide vest and martyrdom bombings, and despite the two year old memorandum of understanding currently bringing a ceasefire to Sri Lanka, recent bombings have shaken the stability and peace of the island nation. Speaking to the Marines from III MEF involved in the, Lt. Gen. Gregson touched on this and expressed a hope the training during NOLES 04 would reap great benefits for both the Marine Corps and Sri Lankan Forces.
"The IED's they've discovered here are the same as we're seeing other places. We might be fighting the students, but they're fighting the professors here. The relationship you build while you're teaching will be exceptionally valuable because there is a lot we can learn from the Sri Lankan forces."
Addressing the Sri Lankan forces after thanking the Marines for their participation, the general again stressed the importance of non-lethal tactics in modern warfare.
"What the terrorist is trying to do is portray our side as the ones killing innocent people. A lot of the things we can do with non-lethals involve separating the innocent bystanders and human shields from the people who are causing harm," said Lt. Gen. Gregson.
"We are well aware that you, the Sri Lankan Army and Sri Lankan Police force, have been fighting a very difficult enemy for over 20 years now. We want to have an exchange of views this week, and I ask you to push my Marines hard, make them work!" he continued.
The Non-Lethal Weapons Seminar 04 is set to conclude this weekend and will showcase the III MEF Marines and Sri Lankan forces using non-lethal tactics during a simulated riot. The Marines will then return home to Okinawa.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200481714235/$file/GeneralandIEDlow.jpg
Lieutenant General Wallace Gregson inspects improvised explosive devices recovered by the Sri Lankan Army during fighting with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam while Major General Sarath Fonseca explains some of the ways the insugents in Sri Lanka use terrorist tactics . General Gregson went on comment that if the insurgents the Marine Corps faces today are the students, then surely the LTTE are the professors in the subjects of terrorism and suicide bombing. Photo by: Pfc. Rich Mattingly
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/3B8CFD2149735C9885256EF300609706?opendocument
Ellie