DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: NATO Commander Discusses the Way Ahead in Afghanistan

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by on January 13, 2010 at 1:19 pm {one comment}
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe Commander, United States European Command

Supreme Allied Commander, Europe Commander, United States European Command

U.S. Navy Adm. James Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander of NATO forces offered insight on efforts to improve strategic communication with Afghan civilians and the work underway to improve civilian-military cooperation during a “DoDLive” Bloggers Roundtable Jan. 13.

“We’re focusing on supporting the fights in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Stavridis said.

He said four things have to be done right in Afghanistan. They include: putting the Afghan people at the center of efforts; being a part of an effective strategic communication plan; getting balance and integration between civilians and military; and training the Afghan security forces.

“I think those four things are the chief challenges,” he said. He added that, “I am confident we will overcome [them] and that we will see momentum and success in the days ahead.”

Joining us on the call were Andrew Lubin, http://themilitaryobserver.com; Lalit K Jha, Pajhwok Afghan News; Grim, www.blackfive.net; Chris Albon, http://warandhealth.com; Maggie, www.bostonmaggie.blogspot.com; Spencer Ackerman, http://washingtonindependent.com; John Kruzel, AFPS; Raymond Pritchett, www.informationdissemination.net; Matt Armstrong, http://mountainrunner.us; and Greg Grant, http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/

To view a transcript from this interview, click here.

To listen to this interview, click here.

To view the complete story, visit Defense.gov.

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: U.S. Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

Filed under Bloggers Roundtable by on January 11, 2010 at 12:18 pm {one comment}
U.S. Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander Europe

U.S. Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

On Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 8:00 a.m. ET, we will interview U.S. Navy Adm. James Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe.

Adm. Stavridis will discuss the way ahead in Afghanistan.  He’ll offer insight about efforts to improve strategic communication with Afghan civilians and the work underway to improve civilian-military cooperation. He’ll also discuss the NATO training mission – Afghanistan.

To view Adm. Stavridis’ bio, click here.

To listen live, click here.

To view the transcript from this interview, click here.

Stavridis Assumes Top European Command Post

Filed under DoD News by on June 30, 2009 at 12:24 pm {no comments}

Adm. James Stavridis today became the first Navy officer to assume the top post at U.S. European Command.

Speaking during change-of-command ceremonies at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised Stavridis, former commander of U.S. Southern Command, as a visionary leader to carry forward important groundwork laid by the retiring Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock.

“Jim Stavridis is a true sailor-scholar whose strategic vision and diplomatic expertise make him the leader we need at this command at such a critical junction in the history of the transatlantic alliance,” Gates said.


Read the full story on DefenseLink

Read DefenseLink’s story on Adm. Stavridis taking over as NATO commander

Recent Comments

DoDLive on Tumblr

  • photo from Tumblr

    An United States Air Force C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft from the 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard, conducts flare training off the Ventura County coast. The flares are used as tactical infrared countermeasures to confuse and redirect heat-seeking missiles.

    (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dave Buttner)


  • photo from Tumblr

    Famed Yankees pitcher “Lefty Gomez” once remarked “I’d rather be lucky than good,” but for one Tuskegee Airman, luck and good combined to make him one of the most successful combat pilots of World War II.

    During the summer of 1944, 2nd Lt. Clarence D. “Lucky” Lester was flying the P-51 Mustang over the skies of Italy’s Po Valley providing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers with cover support on their way to attack airfields in southern Germany.

    Lester was assigned to the 100th Fighter Squadron, a part of the 332nd Fighter Group, and had earned the nickname “Lucky” “because of all the tight situations from which I had escaped without a scratch or even a bullet hole in my aircraft.”

    Read the story of a flight that helped Lester earn his nickname here.


  • photo from Tumblr

    The only African-American ace of World War II, and a former Tuskegee Airman, went on to have a career in the Air Force, as well as success in the business world.

    Lee A. Archer joined the Army in 1941 with high hopes of becoming a pilot, but was initially denied because of his race. When the Army’s policy changed about a year later, Archer was accepted to the training program for black aviators at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama.

    Archer is best known for a day in late 1944 when he was involved in a series of dogfights over German-occupied Hungary. Flying a P-51 Mustang fighter, Archer shot down three German fighters. He would go on to add two more German fighters to his credit to become the first and only African-American ace of the war.

    As a civilian, Archer enjoyed even greater success, serving as vice president for urban affairs with General Foods, as CEO of North Street Capital Corp. and chairman of Hudson Commercial Corp. He also served on the board of directors of Beatrice International Foods and the Institute for American Business.

    Read the rest of his story here.