Shura Helps Build Communications

Defend America News ^ | Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pintagro

[SandRat]

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan, Aug. 7, 2006 -- Coalition commanders and prominent religious leaders in the Khost Province conducted their first shura, or meeting, July 26 to provide a forum for open discussion of provincial issues.

Army Lt. Col. David A. Bushey, Task Force Wolfpack commander, and Navy Cmdr. John F. Wade, commander of the Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team, clarified Coalition policy toward the religion and culture represented by the mullahs in attendance.

“We make three promises to all Afghan citizens, “ Bushey told the assembled mullahs. “The soldiers under our command will respect your religion, they will respect your culture and they will respect your families. “

"We want to develop a positive relationship that will encourage the mullahs to communicate the truth about the Coalition to the people – why we’re here and what we’re trying to accomplish."

Army Capt. Al Tofani, Task Force Wolfpack

Bushey encouraged the mullahs to report any deviation by Coalition soldiers from this standard of conduct.

The Wolfpack commander, currently serving his second tour in Afghanistan since 2002, emphasized the constructive aspects of his mission.

"We didn’t come over here to capture and kill people," Bushey said. "We came here to make Afghanistan a true democracy. We want the people fighting against the government of Afghanistan and the Coalition to lay down their arms and resolve the situation peacefully."

During this shura, Bushey offered compelling evidence about the terrorist affiliations of three mullahs killed by Coalition forces in the Bak District of Khost Province in eastern Afghanistan. He presented photographs of weapons, al Qaeda training videos, compact disks and photos of the slain fighters. After surveying the evidence of the extremists’ guilt, the mullahs pledged to share their observations with the communities they serve.

Bushey described the mullahs as "key communicators to the people of your villages and your communities." He invited the religious leaders to establish open and productive communication links with Coalition leaders.

From the PRT perspective, Wade outlined the team’s three primary missions: enhancing peace and stability, extending the reach of the Afghan government, and promoting economic projects that help meet the needs of the people of Khost Province.

Wade emphasized the importance of security to his mission. Safety and stability, he said, enable team members "to come into your communities and help meet the needs of the people." "Security and economic development," he added, "mutually reinforce each other, yielding increasing benefits."

Mullawi Nasrullah, who presides over a mosque in central Khost, confers with Army Lt. Col. David A. Bushey, Task Force Wolfpack commander, following the mullah shura conducted July 26 at the Civil Military Operations Center in Khost, Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pintagro

The mullahs responded favorably to the commander’s messages, thanking them for hosting the event, discussing issues of concern in their communities, and expressing interest in regular future meetings.

Mullawi Nasrullah, who presides over a mosque in central Khost, sought to dispel notions "that the mullahs are against the Coalition."

Nasrullah also pledged to dispel misplaced suspicions of Coalition personnel. "We need to talk to all the mullahs in the region, 200 or 300 of them, and tell them the Coalition is here to help build mosques, schools and district centers and not to change the society or the religion or the families."

After a traditional Afghan lunch, event organizers provided around 150 prayer rugs for distribution in provincial communities as parting gifts to the mullahs. The mullahs thanked the commanders and event organizers.

According to shura organizers, the gathering aimed to resolve misunderstandings and pave the way for future cooperation between Coalition personnel and mullahs.

"First and foremost, the shura is about developing the relationship between the Coalition and the mullahs," said Army Capt. Al Tofani, the Task Force Wolfpack effects coordinator and a key event organizer. "We want to develop a positive relationship that will encourage the mullahs to communicate the truth about the Coalition to the people – why we’re here and what we’re trying to accomplish."

This is the first of several engagements planned with the mullahs, added Tofani. "This is the first event, but it won’t be the last."

One participant expressed hope the mullahs could help link Coalition personnel to the people of eastern Afghanistan.

"If you need to cross a wadi, you build a bridge," said Mullawi Mohammad Younus of Jaji Maidan. "If you have a bridge, you can cross the wadi. The mullahs can serve as a bridge to reach the people."

[SandRat]

Meeting of culture's for the better in Afghanistan

[DoughtyOne]

"You first." "No, you go ahead."  "That's okay, you first..."

[mosquewatch.com]

We want the people fighting against the government of Afghanistan and the Coalition to lay down their arms and resolve the situation peacefully." LOL, wish in one hand and use the bathroom in the other, see which one fills up the fastest. Islamic "Peace" means our submission. Nice article, but we're dreaming if we think we can change 1400 years of killing non Muslims.