Regional stability shura allows leadership throughout Helmand to address challenges together

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, AFGHANISTAN

07.26.2010

Story by Sgt. Mark Fayloga 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Afghanistan — Afghan, coalition, military and civilian leadership from throughout the Helmand province gathered together for a regional stability shura at Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Afghanistan, July 26.

“We can achieve more by coming together and looking at our challenges across all the districts, than by each of us trying to individually solve our little problems,” Col. Randall P. Newman, Regimental Combat Team 7 commanding officer, said during opening remarks for the event.

During the daylong shura, the third of its kind, several issues were discussed, but with upcoming elections and the school year beginning soon, special focus was put on elections, education and agriculture.

“What we’ve heard from the Afghan people throughout the region is part of ensuring the promise of a better future is allowing the next generation to be educated, so we, collectively, all of us have a responsibility to provide that opportunity,” Newman said.

Haji Abdul Manaf, Nawa district governor, echoed Newman’s intent.

“We can make even greater achievements in cooperation than by trying to do things individually,” Manaf said. “We should keep on celebrating peace and cooperation and honesty with our friends.”

The shura differed from previous iterations with the use of break-out sessions. District governors, Afghan National Security Forces, and ISAF military and civilian personnel broke off into separate groups to tackle issues before selecting individual representatives to brief all present and review decisions made during the day.

“If we all work together, there’s no enemy that could face us and defeat us,” Newman said.

• Date Taken: 07.26.2010
• Date Posted: 08.01.2010 05:57
• Story ID: 53771
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, AF