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| Sailors get unique perspective on Afghanistan from best-selling author |
| 2009-06-27 |
| Individual Augmentee (IA) and Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Support Assignment (GSA) sailors currently assigned to the Navy Mobilization and Processing Site (NMPS) at Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) were treated to a presentation on life in the rural hinterlands of Afghanistan and an interesting perspective on the war by a best-selling author. Greg Mortenson, author of the N.Y. Times best-seller Three Cups of Tea, offered stories of his experiences and unique views on the Global War On Terrorism – views that are increasingly being shared by senior military leaders. Many of his views run counter to what is considered conventional wisdom. “We used to be ‘Enemy-centric’ -- we would go into the fight and decimate the enemy. Now, the military is becoming what I call, ‘Friendly-centric,’ meaning the military identifies who our friends are and their goals. Then, together, we defeat the enemy. Ultimately, the war will be won with books and education, not just bullets and bombs,” he says. Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission To Promote Peace… One School At A Time is required reading for U.S. senior military commanders, U.S. Special Forces deploying to Afghanistan and Pentagon officers as well as military personnel from several other countries. Many who have read it embrace Mortenson’s advocacy for building relationships as a part of an overall strategic plan for peace. Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, has adopted three of Mortenson’s beliefs at CENTCOM: listen more, respect others and build relationships. Mortenson was born in 1957, and grew up in Tanzania where his father, Dempsey, founded Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC), a hospital, and his mother, Jerene, founded a school. He served as a medic in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1977 to 1979 and graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1983. A promise made in 1993 led Mortenson to his exceptional humanitarian efforts. In July 1992, Mortenson’s sister, Christa, died from a massive seizure after a lifelong struggle with epilepsy the day before a scheduled trip to visit the Dysersville, Iowa cornfield where the baseball movie, Field Of Dreams, was filmed. To honor his sister’s memory, in 1993, Mortenson climbed Pakistan’s K2, the world’s second highest mountain. During the climb members of Mortenson’s team became involved in a rescue effort and Mortenson himself became ill. While recovering in a village called Korphe, Mortenson met a group of children sitting in the dirt writing with sticks in the sand, and made a promise to help them build a school. Since, Mortenson has dedicated his life to promote education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson has established more than 90 schools in rural and volatile regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, which provide education to more than 34,000 children, including 24,000 girls, where few education opportunities existed before. In emphasizing education for girls Mortenson says, “If you educate a boy you educate an individual. If you educate a girl, you educate a community.” He also adds, “nowhere in the Koran does it say girls cannot be educated nor does it advocate murder or suicide. One of the reasons the radical mullahs do not want women to be educated is because males must have their mother’s permission to go on jihad. An educated mother would not likely allow her son to do so.” His efforts have not been without conflict. In 1996, he survived eight-days kidnapped by armed members of the Taliban in Pakistan’s Northwest tribal areas. In 2003 he escaped a firefight between feuding Afghan warlords by hiding under putrid animal hides in a truck going to a leather-tanning factory. He has overcome fatwehs (standing death sentences) from radical mullahs, endured CIA investigations, and even received threats from some Americans for helping Muslim children with education. Mortenson is seen as a hero to rural communities of Afghanistan and Pakistan, where he has gained the trust of Islamic leaders, military commanders, government officials and tribal chiefs thanks to his tireless effort to champion education, especially for girls. The Government of Pakistan presented Mortenson with Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the Sitara-e-Pakistan (The Star of Pakistan), March 23, 2009 – Pakistan’s Independence Day. It was presented by Pakistani President Asif Zardari in recognition of services rendered with gallantry and distinction. The Central Asia Institute (CAI), which he co-founded with Silicon Valley pioneer Jean Hoerni, promotes and provides community-based education and literacy programs, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Additionally, they sponsor the “Pennies For Peace” program, where U.S. schoolchildren collect pennies to help fund CAI activities and to learn more about the children in those regions. Mr. Mortenson’s visit gave deploying IA and GSA sailors a unique opportunity to learn what to expect and things to be aware of before going forward. “Your primary goal is to help the good people of Afghanistan, with dignity, respect for elders. You are warriors, diplomats and humanitarians.” “Local people can be empowered and become autonomous. Al Qaeda and the Taliban don’t represent the interests of the people. Most of the people there want the same things we all want – peace, education, health care … The Taliban is promoting extortion and disruption,” he said in closing. “It was really eye-opening, a great perspective on the people of Afghanistan and how much they value education…something we largely take for granted here in the U.S.,” said Lt. Jet Ramos, a Medical Service Corps (MSC) officer preparing to deploy to Kuwait. “I learned that respect for other people and education will go a long way when interacting with (other) cultures and that education is paramount. It also gave me a better idea of what to expect,” said Information Systems Technician Second Class Paul Abalos. “I was amazed at the good work he’s done in organizing the Afghan citizens at a grass roots level to advance their education... and what the Afghan citizens will put up with to get an education,” said Senior Chief Postal Clerk Field Kellogg.. The visit, sponsored by Commander Naval Air ForcesVice Adm. Kilcline, was made possible by Kilcline’s wife, Deb. In describing Mortenson, Mrs. Kilcline said, “I feel like we are in the presence of an individual who is shaping history.” Rear Adm. Gar Wright, Deputy Commander Navy Region Southwest added, “(I) wish that I had this opportunity prior to my own mobilization!” After his presentation, Mr. Mortenson autographed copies of his book and spoke with deploying sailors. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #3 I remember after Sputnik in 1957, there were many new courses in Russian launched with gov't sponsorship in schools all over the country The government is sponsoring high school courses in Chinese, Anguper Hupomosing. Afghanistan is a near term problem, whereas China seems determined to be a mid-term one. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-06-27 15:08 |
| #2 Three Cups of Tea Not much different than some salt and a puff by Capt. Nathan Brittles [pick up at 4:00]. Lessons relearned. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-06-27 14:47 |
| #1 Ultimately, the war will be won with books and education, not just bullets and bombs Unfortunately the US has minimal interest in teaching the languages of Afghanistan to its own people, as if we will be out of there real soon now. I remember after Sputnik in 1957, there were many new courses in Russian launched with gov't sponsorship in schools all over the country, and not just in military or diplomatic facilities. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2009-06-27 12:10 |