[MtnGoat]

Stones into Schools

by Greg Mortenson

Done in a first-person narrative, it picks up where Three Cups of Tea left off in 2003. He covers his vision to promote peace through education and literacy, as well as touching on military matters, Islam.

So far I find it great reading, just as Admiral Mullen has stated and if the book is correct, now Officers are reading Three Cups of Tea in many Military institutions. I think this is a great book for Officers to pick up and read if deploying. Mr. Mortenson covers his unique ways he built relationships with militia commanders, Islamic clerics, Locals, and tribal leaders. The basic thing that some officers just don't get.

One thing that I find very interesting is the way he points out the people he hires to work in is CAI organization are not the typical people that normal NGOs hire. That is the underlining problem within countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan and others. DOS and USAid and NGOs all hire people or TELL (DIRECT) their people that they can't go out into the rural areas to talk and do the things that those organizations should be doing. So they sit in the larger cities sending Locals out with $100,000 of cash to do there own work. Then they don't like the military, so they will no use us to do that work. SO weather it is a school, water well, roads, bridge, etc that needs to be built, fixed etc. It will never be done due to that fact.

Hey I know we are not building a Nation as a military, but if your deploying, pick up the book and read it. Ten times better than Three Cups.