CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan --
Dr. Christopher C. Harmon lectured Marines stationed in Japan on international terrorist groups and U.S. counter-terrorism policy and strategy Jan. 12-13.
Harmon, who holds a doctorate in international relations, is the Maj. Gen. Matthew C. Horner Chair of military theory, Marine Corps University, Quantico, Va.
One lecture was aimed specifically at the Command and Staff College and Expeditionary Warfare School’s Distance Education Program students.
Other seminars included sections on anti-terrorism agencies, the U.S. government and U.S. strategies.
“This lecture has put national security into perspective as far as how the whole nation deals with it,” said Chief Warrant Officer Kerim Miller, officer-in-charge, Maintenance Platoon, Motor Transport Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “I’m in EWS and this is all information we can use in the class.”
The lectures offered a look at where the U.S. stands in the fight on terrorism.
“It’s important to re-evaluate what we’re doing, especially in the middle of a long campaign,” Harmon said. “We can look at our success, strategies and balanceand consider (all of that) when evaluating our effectiveness and movement in the right direction.”
The lectures also provided some insight into why the Marine Corps operates the way it does.
“Marines are always risking their necks and need to understand why,” Harmon said. “The mind is a big part of every war, and this education helps prepare the mind.”
One attendee expressed the value in knowing how to explain the campaign to subordinates.
“I remember some junior Marines asking why we were getting deployed to Afghanistan during a work-up,” said 1st Lt. Kane Kukowski, officer-in-charge, General Support Platoon, Motor Transport Company, CLR-3. “This seminar helped me gain the knowledge to explain the Marines’ role in the global war on terrorism.”
The lectures will allow the Marine Corps’ operational level to better accommodate the strategic level, he added.
“Military efforts are part of a much larger picture,” Harmon said. “The better we understand that, the better our campaign will be.”
Harmon recommended several literary sources for those interested in learning more about counter-terrorism policy and strategy.
“The U.S. Department of State releases country reports on terrorism every year about our policy, strategy and current terrorist organizations,” he said. “It’s available online for easy access,” at www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2009/index.htm.
The second edition of “Terrorism Today,” about the current fight with Al Qaeda, is another resource Harmon recommends.
“We are in the business of war,” Harmon said. “This is a battle of minds, and the more knowledge we can arm ourselves with, the better off we are.”