The 15th Military Power Seminar
Afghanistan Experiences: Lessons Learned or Lessons Lost?
20 November 2013, 09:00–15:30
The Henri Dunant Hall, the Norwegian Red Cross Conference Centre, Hausmannsgate 7,
Oslo
At a critical moment for Afghanistan, this year’s Military Power Seminar will bring together a
broad range of scholars, politicians, military leaders and representatives from civil society and
organizations to discuss the overall political, strategic and operational experiences from
Afghanistan. Are these experiences just speed bumps with little long-term influence on future
operations? Or have the experiences of ISAF changed NATO’s force planning and
capabilities development? Do we see an adjustment of perspectives in the Alliance and its
member states in the wake of Afghanistan?
Moreover, has the involvement in Afghanistan led to any significant changes in Norwegian
security and defence policy? Which are the lessons identified by the Norwegian Armed
Forces, and are they likely to have any impact on future international operations and/or the
make-up of the Armed Forces? These are some of the questions that will be addressed at the
Military Power Seminar 2013.
PROGRAMME

Registration. Coffee and tea (08:30)

Welcoming remarks (09:00)
Rear Admiral Louise Dedichen, Norwegian Defence University College

Opening Address: Impact on Norwegian security and defence policy and civil-military
relations
Norwegian Minister of Defence (tbc)

Q&A
Session I (09:45–12:00): The West, NATO and Afghanistan

The West’s Afghanistan campaign: key lessons
Professor Theo Farrell, King’s College London

The future direction of NATO’s defence policy and strategic planning
Horst-Heinrich Brauss, Assistant Secretary General, Defence Policy and Planning
Division, International Staff, NATO HQ

Afghan views on the international engagements
Abdul Suboh Faizy, political advisor to NATO

Q&A
Lunch (12:00–12:30)
Session II (12:30–13:30): Norwegian Afghanistan Experiences

Impact on the Norwegian armed forces and the way ahead
Major General Yngve Odlo, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Norwegian Joint
Headquarters

Operational and strategic goals in Afghanistan - what has Norway achieved?
Ståle Ulriksen, Royal Norwegian Naval Academy (SKSK)/Norwegian Institute of
International Affairs (NUPI)

The Norwegian armed forces: Learning from experiences in Afghanistan
Dr Torunn Laugen Haaland, Dean of the Norwegian Defence University College
Coffee, tea and fruit (13:30–13:45)
Session III (in Norwegian only) (13:45–15:00): Lessons Learned or Lessons Lost?

Paneldebatt
Hva har Afghanistanoperasjonene betydd for det norske forsvaret? Hvilke erfaringer
er relevante hjemme? Hvilke erfaringer er relevante for fremtidige utenlandsoppdrag?
Hvilke grenspesifikke erfaringer er viktige å ta med videre?
- Major General Yngve Odlo
- Ståle Ulriksen
- Dr Torunn Laugen Haaland
- Brigader Gjermund Eide

Avsluttende kommentarer
Dr Ulf Sverdrup, direktør, NUPI
SLUTT