July 2nd 2008

Ginny Barr introduces our speaker



Our Speaker Representative James Smith

President Eddie (first day as our new President) with our speaker SC Representative James Smith

Reporter Notes 2 July, 2008

President Eddie Robinson called the meeting to order and the JROTC Color Guard from SCDJJ posted the colors.

Mrs. Medway from the Five Points Club and Mr. Stewart from the Columbia Club were recognized as guests.

Member John Wilkins daughter Haley Grace (fourth grader at River Springs Elementary) made a gift to the club of $8.00. This is money she has earned by working a lemonade stand and car wash in her neighborhood.

Past President Beetle made a special presentation for the Rotarian of the year to Dr Cary Hite. Dr Hite has initiated 4 new Rotary members and runs the blog for our club.

President Eddie Robinson introduced the officers for the upcoming year.

John Adair made an announcement for members to sign up for the invocations at meetings.

Lynn Campbell announces he was going to be quizzing the club again on the Rotary magazine but was considerate enough not to start at this meeting.

President-Elect Ginny Barr introduced our speaker The Honorable James E Smith, Jr.

Representative Smith is a native of Columbia. He is a graduate of USC and obtained his law degree in 1995. He is a partner in the law firm of Smith, Ellis, and Stuckey PA, serves in the House of Representatives for District No. 72, and served as a JAG Officer and Infantry Officer in the South Carolina ARNG.

Rep. Smith spoke to our club about his tour in Afghanistan as an embedded tactical trainer. His primary job was to defeat the Taliban forces by developing connections and mentoring local tribesmen in the Jaldak and Qalat region.

He lived and operated with 9 other US soldiers, interpreters and body guards out of a fire base that maintained constant combat operations in his area. He and his fellow soldiers had to be constantly vigilant because the Taliban rewards $80,000 for the assassination of US soldiers.

The Taliban forces numbered about 400 – 500 in the area and lived and worked among the locals so they were difficult to identify. During his tour they were able to eliminate about 120 – 140 Taliban fighters including a Mullah that had been able to evade capture on numerous attempts by our special forces.





Rep James talked about many positive changes taking place. One is that when a unit’s tour is up they are being replaced by other qualified soldiers to continue the past achievements. Rep James said that even though we need a larger presence that the forces there are winning over villagers which in turn reject the Taliban forces. Also, he said the most significant change was that the Afgans understood that there are sacrifices to be made in order to improve the situation for future citizens.

Rep. James told the club about some of the challenges that we still face in the area. One problem he identified is that Afghanistan supplies 90% of the world’s opium. Due to the corruption within the government and the money involved he said it is difficult to control the trade. Also, he said the Taliban is resorting to more aggressive tactics primarily due to the successes made by the military. Another problem he revealed was with Afghanistan’s neighbor Pakistan. He said that due to some cultural divides and historical conflicts it appears as if Pakistan is trying to undermine the new government’s efforts.