Pioneer in Girls' Education Assists U.S. Military

by Alison Leithner · 2010-07-22 07:15:00 UTC
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Greg Mortenson of Three Cups of Tea fame has been giving the government a lesson in cross-cultural communication. After high-ranking members of the military reached out to him, Mortenson has found himself participating in meetings and helping military officers understand how to effectively work with Afghan and Pakistani elders and society leaders.

Mortenson, a pioneer in girls’ education in Pakistan and Afghanistan, says that he believes the only path to success in that area of the world is through education, specifically women’s education. He believes that this is the only long-term solution for the region that has any promise of breaking the cycles set in place by the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

It is a positive sign that the military is choosing to reach out to people who both understand the local cultures and who believe that education, not war, is the key to success and prosperity. This is also in line with the White House’s recently released updated strategy on Afghanistan and Pakistan in which the importance of promoting a “vibrant civil society” is highlighted. Without advancement of educational resources, it will not be possible to achieve this goal.

This is not a new idea. Former congressman Charlie Wilson collected funds and weapons to send to the mujahedeen in Afghanistan in order to defeat the Soviet Army in the 1980s. However, after the Soviets left, he was unable secure funding for education and other stabilization measures.  This, he claimed, was one of his biggest regrets. It’s hard to disagree that had these measures been approved in the 1980s and education had been as supported as weapons had been, we might not be involved in a war now.

Perhaps we can take the military’s involvement with Greg Mortenson as a sign that the government does not plan to repeat its mistakes from the 1980s. With leaders like Mortenson who can educate both the U.S. military and Afghani and Pakistani girls, there might just be a chance for peace and prosperity in those countries. Without an unwavering focus on education and stabilization in the long term, however, this will not be possible.

Photo Credit: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Alison Leithner got her M.A. at American University and teaches English as a Second Language to adults and university students.
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