FORT LEAVENWORTH, KAN. -- Brig. Gen. Edward Cardon, Command and General Staff College deputy commandant, addressed guests at the Brookings Institution's workshop entitled "Mastering Counterinsurgency - Pakistan and the United States" in Washington D.C. March 10.

More than 50 invitees from the Pakistani military (both former and current members), academia, think tanks, Department of Defense and other government agencies came together to discuss challenges facing the region and to gain a better understanding of alternative viewpoints in an open forum.

Cardon and Dr. Conrad Crane, director of the U.S. Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., delivered a joint presentation on the "The American COIN Experience." As a lead author for the Army's Counterinsurgency Field Manual, Crane focused on doctrine development in a historical context. Cardon presented lessons learned from his multiple tours in Iraq and highlighted the Army's ability to adapt and make changes during this time period.

"We have made significant changes," said Cardon. "... to change the Army is a huge effort. We have come a long way since 2003. It took a lot of money, resources, power and human capital. We are not done and there is no end point. We live in a dynamic environment. Rather, it is a continuous effort to examine the nature and character of the war we are in, to be ready for opportunity and to continuously adapt and learn."