Lessons Learned

U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus heard an idea he liked this morning -- and promptly decided to run with it.

The moment came as he took a few questions from an audience assembled by the Center for a New American Security, following a speech in the packed ballroom of the Willard Hotel, not far from the White House.

A Pakistani fellow from U.S. Joint Special Operations University asked the general about the possibility of launching a joint lessons-learned effort on counterinsurgency operations with Pakistan’s national defense university.

“First of all, it’s a great idea,” Petraeus said. “I think I will actually pursue it, which is even better."

He also noted U.S. and Pakistani forces have done a fair amount of sharing back and forth.

“We have a lot to learn from our Pakistani partners -- a great deal -- and there’s much that they can teach us,” Petraeus said.