Navy Today July 08 | Issue 134 - Royal New Zealand Navy

AFGHANISTANFRIENDS & FAMILYCommander CENTCOM, General David Petraeus US Army, hasoverall responsibility for operations in Afghanistan - during hisUS Senate confirmation hearings in late May, General Petraeusgave an overview of the situation in his command – Navy Todayhas edited this extract describing AfghanistanWN 08-0043-61AFGHANISTANTHE U.S. VIEWIN AFGHANISTAN, our focus is on helpingthe elected government expand governance,security and economic opportunity whiledefeating insurgent and terrorist threats. Inassessing the situation in Afghanistan, itis important to recognize that we and ourcoalition partners are helping that countrybuild, not merely rebuild. For even before its30 years of war, Afghanistan was one of thepoorest countries in the world.Exploiting the security provided by theNATO-led International Security AssistanceForce, many coalition countries are strivingto help Afghanistan achieve sustainableeconomic development and assisting with theprovision of basic services, the developmentof infrastructure and the creation of legitimatealternatives to poppy farming. Afghanistan’seconomy can't be built on illegal drugtrade; over time there has to be an alternativeprovided to those who are currently farmingthe poppy. But it is extraordinarily difficultand complex to make that transition.Due to the scale of the challenges involvedand the difficulties in the security arena inparticular, we should expect Afghanistan torequire substantial international commitmentand support for many years to come. Youhave a country which generates [only] about$700 million a year toward its own budget.On 8 June US First lady Laura Bushvisited the NZPRT. At top she isabout to meet ACO Charlie Para.Below, she is challenged – her NZescort is MAJ Justin De La Haye;Governor Sorabi is behind herWN 08-0022-13So Afghanistan clearly is going to require verysubstantial assistance from the internationalcommunity for a number of years.Afghanistan's neighbour, Pakistan, has beenan important partner in efforts to combat terrorism.We have seen growth in Taliban and alQaeda capability and control in the FederallyAdministered Tribal Areas in the North-WestFrontier province. Foreign fighters continueto flow from Pakistan into Afghanistan, wherethey're a violent and destabilizing influence.In our activities, we are taking a whole-ofgovernmentapproach to the challenges andopportunities. A purely military approach isunlikely to succeed, and our strategy mustrecognize that. We recognize that enduringsecurity and stability require comprehensiveeconomic, political, social and diplomatic effortsas well as military means.The operation in Afghanistan is largelyunder the command of the NATO - and recently[NATO nations] have pledged someincreases of forces. [The US forces] can helpwith the lessons that we have learned andinstitutionalized - in terms of the doctrine,the education of our leaders, the trainingand preparation of our forces, and even theequipping for them. One of the biggest problemswe face in Afghanistan is, we have manyforces over there from different areas of theworld. They're in tough combat operations,not just peacekeeping or peace enforcement.I think additional forces that are willing andcapable of conducting counterinsurgencyoperations will be important in the monthsand years ahead.BY CPOWTR DEBORAH BARTONCOMMEMORATIONS OF THE KINGITANGAA REQUEST CAME TO NAVY to participate main two days, from temporary camp kitchensin the celebrations at Turangawaewae for the and in a canvas dining hall - and with a smileanniversary of 150 years of the Kingitanga and grace!movement, during 1-4 May this year. Due to Many preparations had been made, and theoperational commitments, the Navy was limitedin meeting the overall request; however, areas for butchery, cooking the meat, prepar-temporary galley was working to capacity, withTe Taua Moana Marae staff took the lead on ing and cooking the vegetables, the desertorganising a work party. The call went out a preparation area and the all-important bakery.working group was assembled from the wider The marquee for the dining hall was erectedIwi Heramana and our civilian whanau: and decorated.OT(WE) Mana Phillips, OT(WE) Heeni Porter, We decided that the best way for our smallLSCS Jon Renata-Kokiri, myself, Gazza Pratt group to work was to forget about workingfrom Te Reo Heramana Culture Club and our together and just get amongst the 120 otherwhaea, Ani Kingi, Navy’s Kuia.volunteers and so we spilt off into differentWe departed for Turangawaewae on the areas.Friday (the morning traffic reminded us why The theme for the first day was celebratingwe like working in Devonport!) arriving at the the start of the Kingitanga in 1858 - with a wakamarae and straight into the job. We were parade on the river, speeches and kapahaka.working alongside the volunteers from the 22 Therefore the food for this was as similar asmarae in the Manukau / Pukekohe area. The possible to the kai of 150 years ago: dried22 marae had been fundraising for 12 months shell fish, kanga piro, eels, pork and puha,to organise the $30K needed to cover the steamed potato, kumera and pumpkin, roastmeals and equipment for the two days. meat, old fashioned breads, steamed puddingOur role with these volunteers was to feed and tea – no coffee as this was not common5000 visitors to the commemorations for the in NZ back then!Te Arikinui King Tuhetia Pakiis welcomed onto the Maraeat Ngaruawahia for theKingitanga celebrationsThe food was set out and displayed in abeautiful way, with all the tables being decoratedwith historical floral displays - very muchappreciated by the diners. Lunch commencedat 1230 and the finished at 1500, we thencleared, cleaned and commenced preparationsfor the following day.The second day of the commemorations festivalwas all about celebrating the Kingitangamovement of 2008. In the luncheon tent weprepared and served food of today: shishkebabs and barbeque meats, marinated fish,salads of every type, modern breads, pavolovaand fruit salad, tea and endless coffee!Our days of working amongst all the volunteersfrom all the other marae were great,an enjoyable experience. It is so interestingto hear what these people do when they arenot supporting their marae or the Kingitangamovement - they came from all walks of lifeand were of all ages, and we worked togetherto produce enough to feed the crowds fromthe temporary galley. For those of us who attendedthis commemoration it was one not tohave been missed.The marae involved were: Te Puea, Whatapaka,Nga Hau e Wha, Te Awa Marahi, Makaurau,Reretewhioi, Te Kotahitanga, Umupuia, Pukerewa,Papakura, Tikirahi, Orakei, Oraeroa,Mangatangi, Weraroa, Tahuna, Pakau, Huarau,Wharekawa, Nga Tai e Rua, Pukaki, Tauranganuiand - Te Taua Moana!Peter Drury, Waikato Times16 NT134JULY08WWW.NAVY.MIL.NZWWW.NAVY.MIL.NZ NT134JULY08 17