thedrifter
05-29-09, 04:43 AM
Nobel Prize nominee visits MARSOC to discuss strategy in Afghanistan
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May 28, 2009 - 6:28 PM
AMANDA HICKEY
Building relationships is the key to success in Afghanistan, according to speakers visiting the Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command.
More than 500 MARSOC Marines and sailors gathered at the Camp Lejeune theater Thursday to hear from Greg Mortenson, a Nobel Prize nominee and author of New York Times bestseller "Three Cups of Tea," and Jamsheed Marker, who served as the U.N. ambassador of Pakistan for 43 years.
It's been a "huge learning curve" for the military over the last three years, said Mortenson, 51, who has spent 16 years working in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"The military is really working hard at building relationships with tribal leaders," he said, explaining that Thursday was about helping troops learn about cultural differences. "In many ways, the military is ahead of the state department right now."
Maj. Gen. Mastin Robeson, commanding general of MARSOC, invited the duo to speak to after hearing Morteson speak in Florida.
"The principals that we're going to talk about are applicable no matter where we go," Robeson said, explaining that the Marines and sailors of MARSOC "naturally gravitate" toward a warrior ethos and would be wise to learn about building relationships.
"Three Cups of Tea" is required reading for the Marines and sailors of MARSOC.
"The places that we go are not changed by military training, they are changed by education," said Morteson, an Army veteran who has helped build 89 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. "Our main job is to empower the people to have control of their own destiny."
According to Morteson, during the first cup of tea, two people are strangers. During the second, they become friends. After the third, they are family.
"For our family, we're prepared to do anything, even die," he said.
Fighting terrorism is based on fear, while promoting peace is based on hope, Morteson said.
"The real enemy we face is ignorance," he said. "The real hope for peace in this world, we have to empower our children."
Over the last two years, more than 480 schools have been destroyed or shutdown by the Taliban and other insurgent groups, Morteson said. Most of those were girls' schools.
By educating girls to at least the fifth grade, the infant mortality rate will decline, the chance of a population explosion is reduced and qualities of life and health will improve, Morteson said. The girls also share what they learn with their mothers who, in turn, discourage their sons from joining the Taliban or other terrorist organizations.
American military in Afghanistan should build relationships and listen to the local people, Morteson said. Helping the people get fresh water and other provisions would also help.
"Everyone wants to be free. ... Democracy has to come from within the people," Marker said before the presentation.
U.S. troops have a mission in Afghanistan that is "very important," he said.
"It isn't easy ... to put down your lives for the freedoms of others, which is what American military is doing," Marker said.
Contact military reporter Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461 or ahickey@freedomenc.com. Visit the Lejeune Deployed blog at http://lejeunedeployed.freedomblogging.com
Ellie
Comments 0 | Recommend 1
May 28, 2009 - 6:28 PM
AMANDA HICKEY
Building relationships is the key to success in Afghanistan, according to speakers visiting the Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command.
More than 500 MARSOC Marines and sailors gathered at the Camp Lejeune theater Thursday to hear from Greg Mortenson, a Nobel Prize nominee and author of New York Times bestseller "Three Cups of Tea," and Jamsheed Marker, who served as the U.N. ambassador of Pakistan for 43 years.
It's been a "huge learning curve" for the military over the last three years, said Mortenson, 51, who has spent 16 years working in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"The military is really working hard at building relationships with tribal leaders," he said, explaining that Thursday was about helping troops learn about cultural differences. "In many ways, the military is ahead of the state department right now."
Maj. Gen. Mastin Robeson, commanding general of MARSOC, invited the duo to speak to after hearing Morteson speak in Florida.
"The principals that we're going to talk about are applicable no matter where we go," Robeson said, explaining that the Marines and sailors of MARSOC "naturally gravitate" toward a warrior ethos and would be wise to learn about building relationships.
"Three Cups of Tea" is required reading for the Marines and sailors of MARSOC.
"The places that we go are not changed by military training, they are changed by education," said Morteson, an Army veteran who has helped build 89 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. "Our main job is to empower the people to have control of their own destiny."
According to Morteson, during the first cup of tea, two people are strangers. During the second, they become friends. After the third, they are family.
"For our family, we're prepared to do anything, even die," he said.
Fighting terrorism is based on fear, while promoting peace is based on hope, Morteson said.
"The real enemy we face is ignorance," he said. "The real hope for peace in this world, we have to empower our children."
Over the last two years, more than 480 schools have been destroyed or shutdown by the Taliban and other insurgent groups, Morteson said. Most of those were girls' schools.
By educating girls to at least the fifth grade, the infant mortality rate will decline, the chance of a population explosion is reduced and qualities of life and health will improve, Morteson said. The girls also share what they learn with their mothers who, in turn, discourage their sons from joining the Taliban or other terrorist organizations.
American military in Afghanistan should build relationships and listen to the local people, Morteson said. Helping the people get fresh water and other provisions would also help.
"Everyone wants to be free. ... Democracy has to come from within the people," Marker said before the presentation.
U.S. troops have a mission in Afghanistan that is "very important," he said.
"It isn't easy ... to put down your lives for the freedoms of others, which is what American military is doing," Marker said.
Contact military reporter Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461 or ahickey@freedomenc.com. Visit the Lejeune Deployed blog at http://lejeunedeployed.freedomblogging.com
Ellie