Inside the Pentagon’s 9/11 memorial chapel, built where terrorists attacked the building nearly 15 years ago, the Muslim call to prayer goes out. The man who will lead prayer, Dawud Agbere, is one of five Muslim Army chaplains. Since being stationed at the Pentagon, he leads afternoon prayer, giving fellow Muslims at work a chance to connect with their creator.

In discussions of the so-called Asia pivot, the roles of the U.S. Navy and Air Force have been prominent, especially given the Pentagon’s development of the Air-Sea Battle concept. But the U.S. pivot to the Asia-Pacific cannot be reduced to Air-Sea Battle.

Clinton paid special homage to VMI graduate George C. Marshall, who served as the 50th Secretary and State from 1947 to 1949, in addition to tenures as Secretary of Defense and U.S. Army Chief of Staff. She called Marshall “one of the greatest Americans of all time” and credited him with laying the foundation for the “smart power” strategy she has implemented during her time as Secretary of State.

This is the first attempt at cultural diplomacy in the area and the concert discussed is part of a series designed to fulfill the requirements of a grant that provided instruments to the Mosul Academy of Fine Arts Institute. The diplomats who organized the concert are trying to balance the needs of the majority Kurdish Yezidi and minority Arab Muslim and Iraqi Christian populations.

“By using soft power to understand a people and their culture, you will gain a better understanding and appreciation of your partners,” Athavale said. During the three-day discourse with the junior officers, both sides were given ample opportunities to talk amongst themselves.