Lectures and Trainings

   

Lecture on the current processes in Iraq

On October 27, 2005 the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies hosted Colonel James Howcroft, United States Marine Corps Chair of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies and the former US Defense Attaché in Georgia. The guest speaker delivered the lecture on recent political developments in Iraq, including the formation of the new government, the constitution process and tendencies in terrorist attacks. 

While discussing Iraq’s insurgency problems, Col. Howcroft distinguished between two categories of fighters. The first group consists of radical Sunni Muslims who have religious and political visions for Iraq that drives them to fight. The other group comprises international fighters whose primary interest is in using Iraq as a battleground against the West. Col. Howcroff expressed his hope that that the Iraqi Sunnis will realize that the international fighters do not have a vision for the future of Iraq and this insurgent group is willing to destroy the country to achieve its aims. The foreign insurgents’ strategy of attacking civilians is likely to turn society against them. 

Currently Georgia is the third largest contributor of coalition forces in Iraq.  Col. Howcrowt believes that this deployment is a good move on the part of the Georgian government as it puts the country on the international scene, and shows that Georgia is able to provide security as well as receive the help for it.