Blog Posts tagged with "Mons"
What a week!
I started last week in Lisbon, on the heels of a trip to Stuttgart the previous Friday for staff briefings at European Command (EUCOM) and EUCOM's Annual Summer Reception, which included a spectacular concert with an Elvis Presley impersonator in full U.S. Army regalia!
I was in Lisbon for a significant event: the change of command of the major NATO Headquarters there, where a senior French officer took command of a key NATO military post.
Me handing the guidon to Lt Gen Philippe Stoltz
I was very proud to officiate and speak, along with the Portuguese Minister of Defence, Nuno Severiano Teixeira, as Lieutenant General Phillipe Stoltz, a French Army 3-star, proudly took command. Over some good Portuguese wine in the officer’s mess later, I was able to personally welcome Phillipe. I said, “C’est un jour important pour France, mais c’est un jour magnifique pour notre l’Alliance.” (It is an important day for France, but it is a magnificent day for our alliance).
I also visited an innovative organization: the Maritime Analysis and Operations Center. This small group with representatives from seven European nations is focused on counter-narcotics from their operations center in Lisbon. Comparable to the U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force South in Key West (with whom they frequently collaborate), they seek to coordinate the law enforcement efforts of European nations to stem the flow of into the continent drugs (estimated by JIATFS to be in the region of 550+ tons of cocaine annually, for example). Headed up by an exuberant Brit, Tim Manhire, they have shown much success and I hope to partner with them under my European Command hat in interagency and international counter-narcotic work.
ANA soldier on patrol in a poppy field
From there, I flew to Kabul. I left one important area of the world to another one that I care deeply about. I had meetings first with our brilliant NATO Commander, General Stan McChrystal. Although relatively recently arrived, the energy, drive, and intelligence of the new commander were on clear display. We had a long talk about our approach, as well as his initial tactical directives. We generally agreed that:
- Protecting the Afghan people must be the central focus of our operations – protecting them and gaining their trust
- We must quickly build the Afghan National Army and Police to a level that permits them to gradually take responsibility throughout their land. At the end of the day, “all true security is local.”
- Cooperation with all civil elements – the United Nations mission, the various embassies, all of the international aid organizations – is crucial. Based on my experiences in Latin America and the Caribbean, I’ve come to believe that security is seldom delivered by the barrel of a gun.
- International, interagency, combined military and even private-public integration will be the keys.
President Karzai and me
I also had meetings with President Hamid Karzai; Minister of Defense Abdul Rahim Wardak; NATO Senior Civilian Representative, Ambassador Fernando Gentilini; Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Ambassador Kai Eide; and U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and his team of senior leaders (including five full ambassadors).
Minister Wardak and me
Everyone recognizes the seriousness of the situation, and there is a great deal of focus on the upcoming election, scheduled for 20 August. Ensuring proper security and a full and free path to the polling stations is foremost in everyone’s mind at the moment.
My scheduled trip to the north – to Konduz, where our German allies are working hard – fell through with an aircraft problem, but both General McChrystal and I were able to provide the North Atlantic Council and Military Committee (28 Ambassadors and 28 senior military representatives) with a full briefing from the field.
Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara
After leaving Afghanistan, I flew directly to Turkey for two days of meetings and visits with our Turkish allies. In addition to placing a wreath at the Mausoleum of Ataturk, I held meetings with Ambassador Jim Jeffries and the Turkish senior leadership. I had a good one-on-one with General İlker Başbuğ, the Turkish Chief of Defense, and we discussed Turkey’s excellent contributions in Afghanistan, their increasing regional leadership role, cooperation on the border with Iraq against the terrorist PKK, and future engagement.
Mr. Mustafa Hakki Ozer, Muftu of Ankara, Mr. Kadir Temel, Imam of the Kocatepe Mosque and me
Turkey is a vital and important NATO ally, and for me it was a chance to return to the nation from which my grandfather and grandmother emigrated to the United States, after stopping briefly in Greece.
As I write this flying back to Mons and my new home in Belgium, I am struck by the scale of the past week – Stuttgart to Lisbon to Kabul to Ankara – and the range of issues. All are connected by the NATO alliance: the bridge that allows a flow of ideas, interaction, and good works, today on three continents in this turbulent world.
Find more blog posts tagged with:
- President Hamid Karzai
- Germany
- Ankara
- General Stanley McChrystal
- Admiral James Stavridis
- Mons
- United Nations
- Afghanistan
- France
- UN
- NATO
- Turkey
- President
- Lisbon
- Belgium
- Kabul
- Stuttgart
- Portugal
Comments: 10
Admiral: Great update from the bridge, sir. Wanted to follow up on your comments regarding the importance of efforts in Afghanistan by bringing our shipmates' attention to the 'Why Afghanistan Matters' video contest, sponsored by NATO's Joint Forces Command HQ Brunssum. The link is here: http://contest.afghanistanmatters.com/
WHY JAMES STAVRIDIS’s DUTY TIME IS IMPORTAND FOR THIS REGION? In my mine and rationalist way this area future picture is; U.S.A is the BOSS. Ok. World secure area is : Europe, (Inside Turkiye & Greece) Russia and Asian Turkish States. These countries never will have hot war with each other and people see to them enemy to other countries. Under the EU umbrella, some EUROPE countries have enough instruments and system to protect their common future. The other side, need to be create new way for integration different than EU rules. Because of the other side are not the same EU memberships. They are individual state. They will protect this position also. RUSSIAN PAST. Beginning to past century in The Russia, Georgian and Armenian minority were very affect to the government management. I do not have enough idea about communist period. I think Russia have a similar situation right now. Why it is important? Really nation countries when management under the minority controls these nations will go to do extreme nationalist –extreme religious management and finally under the strict control apart from modern world. …during to this management period and at the final always majorities have a big pain. In Turkiye’s near past we have enough idea about this experiment. Two or three way they are giving wrong signal to the people and world. One’s; we know, their origin is not Turk but they are extreme nationalist –extreme religious and giving to the uneducated people wrong nationalist-religious signal. Wrong knowledge-information. Using to some Turks for the killing open minded Turks. Outside of the countries, they are thinking Turks are doing this job. Secondly; they are preparing some nationalist – religious document our neighbors looking these document and they are looking to us like an enemies and trying to find contrary precaution. They are Love Killer also. I general they are married with their own minority. That is for male. If some one has a
Dear Admiral, I saw your commercial recently on AFN and would like to applaud the solid production. I see that you have embraced a much more public role, as well. I might recommend that you remove your sunglasses, though, the next time you are filmed in a spot. Being able to connect with an audience or show that you are more open means eye contact, even through TV. The black sunglasses against a lighter background is also distracting to the message you are trying to deliver. The visuals are just as important as the words! Just a suggestion ... Sincerely, Maria
Admiral Thank you for your kind words and MAOC (N) stands ready to work with anyone prepared to input information or resources to the fight against maritime counter narcotics trafficking partcularly in the Atlantic. The US have always been major contribuotrs to this activity and DOD forces in particular have been very keen to support our role. Having your presence in Europe with the keen interest I know that you have, both in counter narcotics and also Civil-Military cooperation in general is an wonderful opportunity to develop cooperation further. As you know I move on soon but it has been a pleasure to work alongside you.
On a lighter note, very cool picture in front of the Kocatepe Mosque. You look like you are having fun while doing real work for our nation. We need more examples of this to encourage our fellow citizens to serve our nation, otherwise all our citizens see are head shots or the obligatory shot with dignitaries. Please keep up the good work! Thanks.
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