A human experience of undeniable richness. Few disagreed with this perspective in the red lounge of the Mediterranean University Center. Indeed, on Friday, March 13, the closing ceremony of the 176th Regional Session of the Institute of Advanced National Defense Studies took place. After four weeks of debates and lectures, the seventy “auditors” selected by the services of the Prime Minister presented the conclusions of their committee works. “Realism of the proposals, concern for efficiency, and rejection of ideological approaches.” These were the terms used by Air Corps General Laurent Labaye, the Director of the Institute, to present an initial synthesis of the reports submitted a few days earlier. Wise caution of the authors on highly sensitive topics, consequences of the global financial crisis inducing necessary modesty in Western pretensions to solve all major international problems, or results of a collegial work requiring harmonization of inevitably divergent opinions, the fact remains that most of the “recommendations” show a desire to offer practical solutions while favoring a global, sometimes European, approach. But typically Anglo-Saxon in its pragmatism.
On the other hand, no one disputes the fantastic human dimension of this enforced cooperation among various sectors of the Nation on issues of defense and international security. From the initial “rough” contacts quickly emerged powerful friendships, forged in rich exchanges and shared reflections. A fascinating paradox of the IHEDN philosophy where “the other” simultaneously appears as the source of the threats being studied and a necessary passage to access identity. Terrorist risks, energy crisis, maritime piracy, Euro-Mediterranean challenges, compatibility between the duty of information and protection of secrecy, the clash of civilizations constitute themes where “the other” signifies a variable of uncertainty, if not a source of potential dangers. However, the very organization of the work, the proceedings of the session, not to mention the study trip to Italy aimed at fostering group cohesion, fundamentally rest on the discovery and acceptance of an “alter ego.” Proof of the success of this venture is the upcoming creation of an association named after the 176th promotion “Leonardo da Vinci” intended to extend and freely maintain this “IHEDN spirit.” An initiative officially “encouraged and supported” by General Labaye in his closing speech.
Also worth mentioning are the efforts of General Alexandre Lalanne-Berdouticq, Head of the regional sessions department, and his loyal subordinate in charge of logistics, the formidable Captain Pascal Tran-Huu. But a smoker of Monte Cristo No. 4 cannot be fundamentally bad! Both were instrumental in creating this gradual osmosis among auditors from drastically different backgrounds. Although they were sad to see this session end, participants nevertheless expressed their disappointment at not having heard the personal visions of local political leaders -Christian Estrosi and Eric Ciotti- on these strategic areas. Local schedules and national issues do not always align.
