<p>Gen. George W. Casey Jr., U.S. Army Chief of Staff, welcomes delegates to the African Land Forces Summit, May 10, 2010.
</p><p>U.S. Army photo by Barbara Romano
</p><p>WASHINGTON, D.C. – Gen. George W. Casey, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, on Monday night welcomed nearly 100 senior military leaders from nations across the African continent to the inaugural African Land Forces Summit.
</p><p>Casey told the leaders the five-day summit is the latest in a series of efforts to assist African nations as they work to form partnerships to foster stability and peace on the continent.
</p><p>He said the establishment of the U.S. Africa Command in 2007 and then U.S. Army Africa last year is “an indicator of our long-term interest in the militaries on the African continent.”
</p><p>The summit theme is “Adapting Land Forces to 21st Century Security Challenges.”
</p><p>Casey outlined the threats the U.S. Army expects to face in the coming years.
</p><p>“Two trends that worry me most are weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terrorist organizations and safe havens -- countries and parts of countries where the local government can’t or won’t deny their countries to terrorists,” Casey said.
</p><p>The general said the United States must also expect to face conflicts involving “hybrid threats,” a terrorist organization that is supported by one or more sovereign nations.
</p><p>“Hezbollah is a good example of what a hybrid threat can be,” he said. “It’s a mix of conventional irregular, terrorist and criminal capabilities that are organized and employed asymmetrically. That’s what we think we’re going to see.”
</p><p>To prevail against such threats, the United States must form strong alliances with other nations.
The Land Forces Summit is a continuation of that kind of effort, he said.
</p><p>“We’re here to listen and we’re here to partner,” Casey said. “We plan to be at this for awhile.”
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2010-05-11 00:10
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usarmyafrica/4618442827/">African Land Forces Summit 2010</a>