The impact on regional security of transnational threats and their link to terrorism was the main topic of discussion at the 2004 Pacific Area Special Operations Conference (PASOC) in Honolulu, Hawaii. Attendees included special operations officers from 24 countries of the Asia-Pacific region, along with numerous academics and representatives from various U.S. agencies. Photo Courtesy of the Republic of Singapore Ministry of Defense.

Lt.-Gen. Valeriy I. Pryadko, Directorate Chief, Staff of the Russian Federation Armed Forces, raises a point during the conference accompanied by an interpreter.

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Gregory Trebon, Commander, Special Operations Command, Pacific, hosted PASOC 2004.

Brig. Michael Hindmarsh (right), Deputy Commander, Special Operations Command, Australian Defence Force, and Australian Special Forces Lt. Col. Gary Barnes (left) listen to a conference speaker.

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Gregory Trebon, Commander, Special Operations Command, Pacific, hosted PASOC 2004.

Singapore Army Maj. Tee Jong Foo and New Zealand Army Maj. Rian McKinstry share views during a break in the conference.

(L to R) Lt. Col. William Janguan, Commanding Officer, 2 Royal Pacific Islands Regiment, Papua New Guinea Defence Forces; U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kim A. Rapacz assigned to Special Operations Command, Pacific; Cmdr. Satisi Vunipola, Acting Commander, Tongan Naval Division, Tongan Armed Services; and Col. Francis Agwi, Chief of Defence Intelligence, HQ Papua New Guinea Defence Forces, pose for a photo during a conference break.

Sri Lanka Army officers, Col. L. A. D. Amaratunga and Col. C. R. M. Silva, listen intently to a conference presentation. Photo by TSgt. Jonathan F. Doti, USAF

Royal Nepalese Army Maj. Anupjung Thapa asks a question during the conference.

Brig. Michael Hindmarsh (right), Deputy Commander, Special Operations Command, Australian Defence Force, and Australian Special Forces Lt. Col. Gary Barnes (left) listen to a conference speaker.

Col. Jose B. Vizcarra, Commander, Joint Special Operations Group, Armed Forces of the Philippines, addresses the conference on “Terrorism in the Philippines.”

(L to R) Maj. Gen. Teramon Roeksbutr, Special Advisor to Special Warfare Command, Royal Thai Army; Lt. Col. Hau Hung Tran, Chief of Planning Division, Vietnam Ministry of Defense, Institute for International Relations; and Sr. Col. Le Xuan Kien, Director of Reconnaissance Faculty, National Defense Academy, Vietnam, pose for a photo during a conference break.

Singapore Armed Forces Col. Ho Kiat Chng and U.S. Army Col. Andrew Burton share a laugh during a break.

(L to R) Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Maj. Zulkiflee Hanafiah; Lt. Col. Klaimanee Wiphusana, Special Warfare School, Royal Thai Army; and RBAF Maj. Sigar bin Apoi engage in a discussion.