Connecting People, Connecting Nations: The Fulbright Program and a Fulbrighter in Mongolia

The Fulbright Program was created in 1946, in the aftermath of WWII, as a means of fostering peace and understanding between nations through the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills. It was the vision of Senator J. W. Fulbright who proposed forgoing the debt of foreign countries amassed during the war in return for funding an international educational program between individuals, institutions and future leaders. It is considered one of the most prestigious award programs and operates in 155 counties.  Senator Fulbright was the longest serving chairman in the history of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Given our focus on informed discussions on contemporary issues on international affairs, it was fitting that in 2008, the CCFR partnered with the Central Virginia Chapter of the Fulbright Association to co-sponsor an event with a mutually agreed topic each November. This November, a Fulbright Scholar and President of the Central Virginia Chapter, Retired Army Colonel Fred Borch will address the Fulbright program in general, and relate his experience traveling and lecturing on the Law of Armed Conflict at the National University of Mongolia.

Mongolia is a 604,000 square mile land locked country with a population of 3.5 million people with almost half living in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. Ancient land of Ghengis Khan, it shares a mountainous border with Russia to its north and the Gobi Desert with China to the South.  It has been claimed by both neighbors at different times in history, divided since the Russian Revolution, and finally reunited and recognized as an entity in 1961 when it joined the United Nations.  It is not surprising that China and Russia are its largest trading partners, but it is seeking relations with a wider range of countries culturally and economically, focusing on encouraging foreign direct investment.  Mongolia is a presidential democratic republic whose constitution guarantees a number of freedoms, including full freedom of expression and religion.

Colonel Fred Borch is a historian, lawyer and soldier.  He was a Fulbright Scholar to the Netherlands in 2012, where he taught international law relating to terrorism and counterterrorism at the University of Leiden. Prior to this award, Colonel Borch served as an Army lawyer from 1980 to 2005 in various locations including Germany and Italy.  He taught law as a Professor of Criminal Law at the Judge Advocate General’s School in Virginia, and was in the faculty as a Professor of International Law in at the Naval War College in Rhode Island.  His last active duty assignment was as the Chief Prosecutor, Office of Military Commissions, U.S. Defense Department.  From 2003 to 2004, Colonel Borch was responsible for overall prosecution efforts against alleged terrorists detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.