Stability, Security, Transition & Reconstruction Operations

The 2012 Stability, Security, Transition and Reconstruction Operations (SSTRO) Conference will look at stability efforts through the entire spectrum.  We'll look at completed operations that show successes that are being replicated in other situations, current trouble spots, and what we can expect in the future.

Although Afghanistan and Iraq will continue to be of tremendous importance and considerable challenge, there are other countries which are also undergoing profound transitions and for whom political and resource-based attention will make a significant difference in terms of their stability and well-being.  Sudan and the overall Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are prime illustrations.  There are also some countries that have successfully emerged from protracted civil war and deeply entrenched insurgency, like Liberia and Colombia, for example, based on the concept of expanded partnerships.  In these instances, it was the U.S. inter-agency coordination and collaboration, along with public-private sector cooperation, and cooperation with and between the host country governments and stakeholders that enabled sustained engagement and success.

This year's conference will explore the policies, programs and practices that helped Liberia and Colombia transform into more stable, peaceful, prosperous and resilient states.  Indentifying and replicating lessons and good practices from these success stories will hopefully contribute to whole of government/whole of society approaches toward preventing and responding to crises, conflict, and other enablers and rivers of instability in our other two panels, Sudan and the MENA region.