By Jeff Marchesseault

GUAM - A recently concluded conference of worldwide military leaders in Hawaii is more evidence that Guam sits smack dab in the middle of the U.S. Pacific Command's (USPACOM's) freshly infused policy of international cooperation among likeminded, peace-loving, free nations.

PACOM oversees several critical military functions on Guam.

As Guam News Factor reported on Friday, the Pacific Command's new Commander, Adm. Robert F. Willard, is eager to make friends across the Pacific to forge a strengthened alliance of Asia-Pacific powers. But the 12th annual Chiefs of  Defense Conference (CHOD) he hosted in Oahu from October 26-29 makes it plain that he wants to engage friends all over the planet.

Senior military officers of 22 nations gathered at the Ko Olina resort in West Oahu  for the CHOD this past week.

According to the USPACOM blogspot, the conference brought together senior military leaders from nations in the Asia-Pacific region to meet and discuss mutual security challenges, improve mutual relationships and foster security cooperation. The conference theme was Common Defense Challenges in the Asia-Pacific Region.

The Associated Press reports the leaders shared how they delivered disaster aid to Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga after last month's tsunami and specifically addressed how to prevent the growing problem of open-water piracy -- as it festers in Asia-Pacifc and off the African coast.

Nations attending this year's conference included: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, France, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Thailand, Tonga, Vietnam, and the United States.

According to the Associated Press, Russia and China skipped this year's  conference.

Last year's conference was co-hosted by the U.S. and Indonesia, and held in Bali.

Guam's pending $15 billion 2010-14 buildup will undoubtedly figure into the equation for Asia-Pacific security -- as it becomes a strengthened line of strategy, security and defense in an era of international alliance that shifts manageable portions of U.S. defensive strategy and tactics onto stakeholders with mutual economic and security interests.

Read the Associated Press story, "Asia-Pacific region defense chiefs meet in Hawaii", October 29, 2009.

Read the U.S. Pacific Command blogspot article, "Senior Leaders to Meet at Chiefs of Defense Conference, October 23, 2009.

Read the Guam News Factor story, "PACOM's 'Allied Nations' Strategy Will Drive Guam's Base Tactics", October 30, 2009.

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