Mismatched Military Mission in the Afghanistan Theater: Lessons Learned? with Terry Tucker

Posted on by
2

[middmedia pleroyantaki Commons-MIIS-web_data-middlebury-edu Mismatched+Military+Mission+TT1-PP.mp3 width:400 height:300] 

Dr. Terry Tucker, of the Department of Army Lessons Learned, summarizes his varied experience in counterinsurgency that includes working for the DEA, Saudia Royal Army, and the ISAF training Afghan and Coalition forces until 2010. Paula LeRoy hosts the first in the series of four interviews for Policy Pace with Dr. Tucker about counterinsurgency, military-civilian integration and Afghanistan.

The interview begins with analyzing how the military’s mission was mismatched with the skills set and history of military training (doctrine). Then recognizing the economic and political issues that color the conflict, a recap of the Powell and Bush doctrine requires a revisiting of Westphalia and Geneva Hague’s definitions of war.

The strength of Al-Queda is evaluated in terms of how war was “declared,” the impetus of fear, and the possibility that the US’s aggressive response has led to its own diminishment.  Fifteen minutes into the interview, Dr. Tucker elaborates on several examples of improvements in the use of soft power, cultural and language sensitivity, showing some lessons learned. The final part, considers conflict as a social movement, a theory which forms the basis of present day counterinsurgency tactics.

Click here to download the audio in MP3 format. The entire interview is 46 minutes.Add Media

If you have any comments, suggestions, or interest in being interviewed, please contact us at policypace@live.com

Conservation Landscapes, Saving Species with Landscape Scale “Playgrounds”: Steve Trombulak

Posted on by
Reply

As part of the Sustainability Series, Middlebury Professor, Steve Trombulak fills an hour with scenarios, cutting age research, and a privileged view of the Systematic Conservation Planning being piloted in Vermont and spreading internationally. The first 10 minutes introduces the topic and history of Site-Based Conservation Planning including examples in Yellowstone National Park.

The second section describes the 5 Dominant Reasons why landscape scale conservation is necessary. And the final sections outline strategies to work as an advocate and lessons learned. Although the presentation was given with a powerpoint, Professor Trombulak’s lecture is impressive, interesting and compelling even without the visuals. This presentation was recorded and edited by Paula LeRoy from MIIS Informed Radio show: Policy Pace.

Click here to download the MP3 podcast. It will download to your itunes or mediaplayer.  Enjoy!

Looking Forward and Backward with the Motor Running: President Sunder Ramaswamy of MIIS

Posted on by
Reply

Monterey Institute of International Studies‘ President Dr. Sunder Ramaswamy reflects on what makes MIIS unique, the challenges of innovating while maintaining, channeling funding to accomplish MIIS’ mission, and the advantages and disadvantages of being cutting edge. Paula LeRoy, host of Policy Pace guides this 30 minute interview  that gives an insiders view of President Ramaswamy’s philosophy of education  carried out in his current role.

Click here to download 30 minute pod cast in MP3 format.

The Making and Questioning of a Development Professional: Alfredo Ortiz

Posted on by
Reply

Alfred Ortiz, Professor at Monterey Institute of International Studies of Nonprofit Finance and Organizational Sustainability as well as a Phd Candidate shares a deep contemplation about development work, development philosophy and the direction of development. He elaborates on some of his past experiences with social entrepreneurship, indigenous amazonian people and capacity building, his work with PACT Ecuador, teachings and trends. In this interview with Policy Pace producer Paula LeRoy, Professor Ortiz previews his PhD findings to challenge typical beliefs about development. He asks the hard questions. If we just strengthen this organization will it increase the impact? How valuable is training? Does training produce results? Are there too many promises? How can development agencies better understand the complexities of the project environment? Is visioning helpful or harmful? Can we work on the micro level and the macro level? Do agencies ask themselves the hard questions about their impact?

Click here to download the interview.

Questions, comments or request for an interview can be sent to policypace@live.com

Why Write Stories about Women? by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Posted on by
Reply

“If you don’t speak for her, who else will?”  “You have a seat at the table, and if you give it up, no one else will speak for her, because she can’t!”   Gayle Tzemach Lemmon , speaks for under represented women, and encourages us too.  She is the author of The Dressmaker of Kahir Kahan, a true story of a woman entrepreneur in Afghanistan during the Taliban era. Gayle’s convincing presentation tasks us with voting by what we read. “The news is all bad, because we let it be,” she instructs us and continues on, not only to tell the compelling story of Kamala, a teacher turned dressmaker entrepreneur, but to motivate us to be the voice for women who do not have a seat at the table.  Taped and introduced by Paula LeRoy for Policy Pace, this 44 minute talk is a true treat.

Click here to download the presentation. It will download to your itunes or multimedia player, from which you can chose to download it to your ipod or mp3 player for mobile listening.

We encourage you to enjoy other speakers and interviews from the Dining for Women conference, found on Policy Pace at sites.middlebury.edu/informed.  Erika Keaveney of Lotus Outreach, Marsha Wallace-cofounder of Dining for Women, Ursula Daniels and Denise Woods on Gender Politics and Power are posted.

Syrian Roots of Radicalism: an experience

Posted on by
Reply

English Language professor Mike Garnett, of Monterey Institute of International Studies describes the roots of radicalism he witnessed in his four years of living and teaching in Syria. Through vignettes about ethnic and cultural issues, WASA, the value of justice, and class organization we can understand the boiling point. Parental, western, and educational influences on youth deepen the picture.  Mike denotes important aspects Syrian history, ambivalence about the Bushard presidency and the dangers of involvement. This is an important perspective on the vibrant Arab Spring movement that has cost thousands of Syrian’s their lives, and caused Syria, a founding member to be dismissed from the Organization of Arab States. Policy Pace producer Paula LeRoy treasures this spontaneous interview as a symbol of how much you can learn from the person sitting next to you, if you ask them a few simple questions.

Click here to download interview.

What’s Your Status? Malawi’s Progress in HIV, Malaria and Development

Posted on by
Reply

Returning peace corp volunteer Ben Nebo, MPA 2011 at MIIS, describes in detail the very successful “one love”  and “bed nets for pregnant mothers” campaigns in Malawi intertwined with narrative about Malawi’s  historical context. The overlay of his development studies on the reality of Malawi’s challenges and successes makes a very interesting analysis. There will be second interview with Ben Nebo about his water and sanitation work in Malawi, as part of Policy Pace‘s effort to bring cutting edge, front line information to assist development workers, students and policy makers to better inform practice.

Click here to download the interview to your itunes or multimedia player.

Comments and suggestions for Policy Pace are encouraged.

Afghanistan: Progress and Inadequacies of US Involvement: COIN expert Terry Tucker

Posted on by
Reply

Lessons learned COIN expert Dr. Terry Tucker, expands the breadth of knowledge commonly available about US presence in Afghanistan. In this interview with Policy Pace, he details counterinsurgency pitfalls, challenges, ethics, and successes.  Other topics include hard power vs. soft power, rule of law, intricacies of training the Afghan police and military, proliferation of small arms, forming the new government, development  changes in gender based approaches, pacing and inclusion. Former Commander, Tucker also instructs us about the technical military structures that dictate the principles, constraints, mandates, and counterinsurgency techniques.

The information shared today is based on 51 months in Afghanistan training the Afghan police and national guard, interfacing with NGO’s and civilian leaders as well as  two years of employment with Army Lessons Learned as a policy analyst.  Presently, part of Dr. Tucker’s duties include interviewing returning troops and training deploying troops during which he stresses cultural and linguistic understanding, soft power skills, and the transmission of lessons learned.

Interview available at soundcloud.com/policypace/counterinsurgency-in

Afghani views of progress in Afghanistan

Posted on by
Reply

Nasrullah Aman and Miryam Johari, two Afghanistan natives and Fullbright scholars studying at Monterey Institute of International Studies, discuss their work in Afghanistan, progress, politics, and sterotypes about Afghanistan. Education, government corruption, decentralization and improvement of the civil service, issues of US presence, the Taliban, al Queda, and promises for Afghanistan. This 56 minute interview presents a very different perspective than heard in mainstream media. A goal of Policy Pace, produced by Paula LeRoy,  is to bring fresh views and expertise to students, the public and policy makers.

Click here to download the interview. It will download to your itunes or multimedia program in MP3 formant, which can then be downloaded to your ipod or mp3 player for mobile listening. Enjoy!

Comments are appreciated.

Ivory Coast: A Civil War Challenged

Posted on by
Reply

This is the second part of the analysis of the Ivory Coast civil war with Dadie Loh, MA 2011, Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies. Paula LeRoy, MA 2011, producer of Policy Pace, probes the Human Rights Watch reports of wide scale human rights abuses and the less known aspects of the civil war/rebel movement. During parts one and two, Mr. Loh describes the use of religion to cause tension, the rise and fall Ghagbo’s presidency, the 1999 military coup, the amnesty of former President Gai, the importance of cocoa, deforestation, guns for diamonds, french influence and the disputed election/

The purpose of Policy Pace is to provide in depth information to students and policy makers from knowledgeable people who may not receive a voice in mainstream media.

If you would like to be interviewed for Policy Pace or conduct an interview of a colleague for Policy Pace, please contact us at policypace@live.com

Click here to download the interview. It will download to your itunes of multimedia player in MP3 format which can then be downloaded to your ipod or mp3 player for liesurely listening.