NANGAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Coalition forces, district subgovernors, and district police chiefs for the Nangahar province held a security shura at Forward Operating Base Finely Shields, July 14.
About 22 district subgovernors and seven district police chiefs attended the meeting to speak about pre-Ramadan security measures with senior leaders assigned to 3rd Battalion, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
Ramadan is a Muslim holiday held each year for 29 or 30 days in the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar, and is thought to be the month the Koran was delivered to the Prophet Mohammed.
During this period Muslims will fast, pray to Allah more, and seek a renewal of their faith in hopes of spiritual rewards.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jason Hancock, commander for 3rd Battalion, 61 Cavalry Regiment, opened up the meeting by welcoming everyone and thanking them for being able to attend.
“The message I had in Bati Kot is kind of the purpose of bringing us here today, is the fact that coalition forces and U.S. specifically are getting less and less every week, and in the upcoming months it will be even less,” said Hancock through an interpreter. “The partnership we have in this room that spreads across Nangahar is exactly why I would like to continue to build on those successes. So we get better together and use our unity to attack the problems in Nangahar.”
Richard Riley, senior civilian representative for Nangahar, spoke next and thanked Hancock for inviting him and then expressed his gratitude for the risks all the attendees take in protecting their districts.
“It takes a very brave and committed person to do the jobs you do in your districts… and we know that,” said Riley. “This is why we work with you every single day. That’s why we come to see you as often as we can.”
“I know that there are concerns that you have, I know that everything is not peaceful in your districts,” continued Riley. “We have to be honest with each other, there are a lot of challenges that we’re facing. But I do want you to understand something very important and that is the United States government is now and will always be a good partner for the government of Afghanistan.”
Some of the district subgovernors spoke after Riley and raised concerns about security forces being brought back to the districts and budget constraints which destroy their credibility with the citizens in their districts.
Riley explained to the governors the national security’s continued effort of bringing more troops to the districts in order to enhance their security and how he is personally working with the government to make sure the governors have an adequate budget.
Hancock closed by talking about the poppy seed eradication and how coalition forces and the Afghan government need to work together on a campaign to ensure the relationship with the people of Afghanistan is not hurt.
“I think we can all agree that talk only gets us so far,” said Hancock. “Action is what’s really important.”
| Date Taken: | 07.14.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.17.2012 01:42 |
| Story ID: | 91650 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE FINLEY-SHIELDS, AF |
| Web Views: | 626 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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