Small Wars Journal

Emerald Express Strategic Symposium

Wed, 04/28/2010 - 9:29pm

All transcripts from the 21 April Emerald Express Strategic Symposium are now posted at the Marine Corps University web page.

This latest EE entitled, Afghanistan: The Way Ahead, was a one-day symposium held at the Gray Research Center, Quantico, Virginia. The purpose of this symposium was to improve understanding of the United States Marine Corps area of operations, to focus on the multidimensional and multinational approaches to enable the USMC and partners to succeed in the historical and ideological birthplace of the Taliban Movement; the current stronghold of the insurgency of Afghanistan; and the epicenter of opium cultivation in the world.

Topics covered at the symposium included a geographical, cultural and historical overview of southern Afghanistan; transition of military authority to the ANSF; governing Afghanistan to include district councils, development, and judicial reform; and defining, dealing and defeating the neo-Taliban and their message.

Transcripts for each of these subjects as well as the opening remarks, keynote address, keynote luncheon address, and closing remarks can be found at the MCU EE site.