Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Petraeus visits Red Bull Division, Laghman Province leaders By Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Matson
                Combined Joint Task Force 101
 LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, International Security Assistance Force commander, met with leaders of the 34th Infantry “Red Bulls” Division from the Iowa National Guard Feb. 7 in Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan, in a visit which focused on maintaining security in the Laghman Province and increasing economic development in the region. “I want to assure you that I am not only a ‘professor of war’ as some journalists in the United States labeled me, I am also a former professor of economics,” Petraeus told a group of leaders from the Red Bulls, as well as other military and local government officials during a lunch hosted by Laghman Province Gov. Mohammed Iqbal Azizi in Mehtar Lam. “I know that we must not only achieve security – we must then build on that foundation with economic development and improvements in basic services and all the other activities that are necessary for the people to support this government,” Patraeus said. The 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment of the Red Bulls is the battle space owner of Laghman Province and works closely with the Afghan National Army and Afghan National and Uniform Police to provide security in the province. Petraeus began his visit with a meeting between Red Bulls military leaders, as well as leaders of the Laghman Province Provincial Reconstruction Team, the Kansas Agribusiness Development Team and other units from nearby Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam who work with the local population. Petraeus was briefed on operations the units are conducting with their Afghan counterparts in key terrain areas and throughout the province. “At the end of the day ... you have to go after the enemy wherever the enemy is – he doesn’t care whether it’s key terrain or non-key terrain,” Petraeus said. “If they can disrupt whatever it is you’re doing, that’s a problem. We cannot let them have safe-havens anywhere we can prevent it.” After the morning meeting, Petraeus visited with Azizi at his compound. The governor expressed his happiness and gratitude for the coalition’s efforts in the province. “The team working with me is exceeding my expectations,” Azizi said. “They are very precise.” Petraeus told the governor the coalition is working to minimize damage to the infrastructure of the province as military operations continue. He said one of the ways he plans to do this is by planting more trees. “We have destroyed trees as part of military operations, that’s something that’s inescapable,” Petraeus said. “But we will plant many, many more. I am going to have an order that says if you cut one tree, you plant two more somewhere else.” Petraeus said the highlight of his visit to the province was his visit to the Mastoori Girls School in Mehtar Lam, where Azizi took him after their meeting at the governor’s compound. There he met some of the more than 2,500 girls who attend the school, as well as one of their teachers. “The most enjoyable moment of the day for me was seeing the young girls at the school and hearing the excitement in their voices about the education they’re now receiving -- something that was impossible in the days of the Taliban,” Petraeus said.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 4 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 12 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 12 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil