Tuesday, November 15, 2011

1 killed, 17 injured in Faryab donkey bomb blast

KABUL, Nov. 15  -- A policeman was killed and 17 civilians were injured Tuesday morning when an explosion took place in Faryab province, some 425 km northwest of Afghan capital city of Kabul, the Interior Ministry said.
"A policeman with Afghan National Police (ANP) was martyred and 17 civilians were injured when a mine planted on a donkey was detonated by a remote control device at about 11:00 a.m. (local time) Tuesday in Ganj bazaar area of Ghormach district," the ministry said in a statement.
The ANP has shifted all injured people to a district hospital. It said an investigation has been initiated.
This is the second blast in the insurgency-hit country since Tuesday morning.
Five civilians, including a woman, were wounded earlier Tuesday morning when a magnetic mine attached to their vehicle went off in Qara Bagh district, some 40 km north of capital Kabul, the Kabul police said in a separate statement.
No group has claimed responsibility for the incidents so far.
Tuesday's attacks happened amid the government's preparations to open the traditional Loya Jirga, or grand assembly of tribal elders, lawmakers and government functionaries on Wednesday to discuss the proposed U.S.-Afghan strategic partnership amid Taliban threats.

other sources:
According to local authorities in northern Afghanistan, at least two people including an Afghan police force were killed and 16 others injured in northern Faryab province early Tuesday.

Expeditionary unit deploys as America's force in readiness

A Marine with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit looks on as family members say farewell here Nov. 14. The unit, Amphibious Squadron 5 and USS Makin Island embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.
11/15/2011 By Sgt. Elyssa Quesada
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SAN DIEGO  — More than 2,300 Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit began a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East regions Nov. 14 after embarking USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor here.
The mission for this forward deployed unit will be to provide a rapid-response force capable of conducting conventional amphibious and maritime operations from sea, by surface or air.
"Our Marines and sailors have excelled throughout our rigorous training cycle, and I am proud to be a part of this organization as we go downrange," said Col. Michael R. Hudson, the 11th MEU's commanding officer.
"We embody the Corps' amphibious heritage with an agile and scalable force able to do great things from sea or land to either solve a given crisis or enable follow-on forces" Hudson said. "We leave our loved ones knowing that we are ready and that they too are well prepared for this deployment"
After pierside goodbyes to friends and family members, the service members left San Diego Bay and sailed westward to assume the role as the amphibious forces in readiness.
The MEU's major subordinate elements are Battalion Landing Team 3/1, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 11. This team, along with the unit's command element, has been working together as a complete air-ground-logistics team since May.

11/15/2011  By Courtesy Story  , 11th MEU / marines.mil


Cpl. Robert R. Jones directs a tank with Battalion Landing Team 3/1, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, in the well deck Nov. 14. The battalion is the ground combat element for the unit, which embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego and began its seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East regions. Jones, an 11th MEU combat cargo Marine, is a 24-year-old Toledo,Ohio, native.
11/15/2011 By Sgt. Elyssa Quesada
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An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) lands here Nov. 14. The squadron is the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego harbor and began its seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.
11/15/2011 By Sgt. Elyssa Quesada
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Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 5 and USS Makin Island man the rails as the ship sails through the San Diego harbor beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions here Nov. 14.
11/15/2011 By Sgt. Elyssa Quesada
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Lance Cpl. Will D. Cornell kisses his wife aboard USS Makin Island here Nov. 14. Cornell, 23, is from Clinton, Okla., and serves as a combat engineer with Battalion Landing Team 3/1. The battalion is the ground combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Tommy Huynh
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Cpl. Kenyatta E. Cone and his family pose for a photo aboard USS Makin Island here Nov. 14. Cone, 21, who hails from San Diego, serves as an administrative clerk for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Tommy Huynh
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Petty Officer 3rd Class Haadi M. Turner hugs her children goodbye aboard USS Makin Island here Nov. 14. Turner, 25, is from Gaitier, Miss., and serves as an operations specialist with USS Makin Island. Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 5 and USS Makin Island in San Diego beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Tommy Huynh
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Lance Cpl. Erick Lundrigan, 21, hugs his wife before deploying aboard USS Makin Island here Nov. 14. Lundrigan is from Lynn, Mass., and serves with the ship's combat cargo detachment. The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Tommy Huynh
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Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 5 and USS Makin Island man the rails as the ship sails through the San Diego harbor beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions here Nov. 14.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Gene A. Ainsworth III
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Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 5 and USS Makin Island man the rails as the ship sails through the San Diego harbor beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions here Nov. 14.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Gene A. Ainsworth III
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Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 5 and USS Makin Island man the rails as the ship sails through the San Diego harbor beginning a seven-month deployment through the Western Pacific and Middle East regions here Nov. 14.
11/15/2011 By Cpl. Gene A. Ainsworth III
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Spec-Ops Command: SEAL Raid Book 'a Lie'


Spec-Ops Command: SEAL Raid Book 'a Lie' by Kimberly Dozier, Associated Press.
The U.S. military is denouncing a former Navy SEAL's book that claims to describe the "real" version of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
"It's just not true," U.S. Special Operations Command spokesman Col. Tim Nye said. "It's not how it happened."
Laden with conspiracy theories and attacks on the Obama White House, Chuck Pfarrer's "SEAL Target Geronimo" claims an alternative version of the raid…


Two children injured in car bomb explosion in Qarabagh Kabul

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 – According to Afghan security officials, at least four people were injured following a car bomb explosion in the Qarabagh district of capital Kabul on Tuesday.
The officials further added, the incident took place around 11:00 am after an explosive device which was already inside a vehicle went off injuring at least people.
District governor for Qarabagh Khwaja Mohammad Hanif Sediqi confirmed the incident and said, at least two children, a woman and a man were injured during the explosion.
In the meantime, district police for Qarabagh Abdul Mobeen said, the explosive device was planted the vehicle of security official for northern Afghanistan, who was residing in Qarabagh district.
The source further added, the explosive device was already planted inside the vehicle of the security official and went off in Chowk Bazar of Qarabagh district while he was on his way towards Kabul city.
According to district police chief Abdul Mobeen, the security official along with his wife and his two children were injured following the incident.
No group including the Taliban militants have so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.
Meanwhile, security officials in Qarabagh district believe that the main motive behind the incident could possibly be personal issues.


from KHAAMA press

Taliban commander and tribal elder killed in Helmand province

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 – According to local authorities in southern Afghanistan, a tribal elder and two Taliban militants were killed following clashes in southern Helmand province.
The officials further added, the incident took place in Garam Ser district of Helmand province.
Provincial governor media office following an statement confirming the incident said, Haji Abdullah Khan a tribal elder was killed in Garam Ser district of southern Helmand province by the armed militants.
The statement by provincial governor media office further added, at least four suspects were detained by Afghan security forces in connection with Haji Abdullah Khan’s assassination.
In the meantime, at least two Taliban militants including a Taliban commander were killed in the same district following an air raid by NATO-led International security assistance force.
District governor for Garam Ser Mohammad Fahim Garbati said, the local Taliban commander who was killed during the air raid was recognized as Mullah Shakir.
According to officials, Mullah Shakir was a mastermind in organizing improvised explosive device attacks and armed attacks against the foreign and Afghan forces in this province.
Meanwhile, local residents in the area said, Mullah Shakir was sent by the Taliban Council in Quetta to destabilize the region.
This comes as another Taliban commander Mullah Fatiullah was earlier killed along with his three fighters following an air raid by coalition forces in the same district.

from KHAAMA press

US Predators strike in Miramshah

report by Bill Roggio
--

US Predators killed five people in an airstrike in Pakistan's Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan.
The unmanned CIA-operated Predators, or the more deadly Reapers, fired several missiles at a compound in the bazaar in Miramshah, the main town in North Waziristan, according to Xinhua.
The identities of those killed have not been disclosed. No senior Taliban, Haqqani Network, or al Qaeda leaders are reported to have been killed.
The Miramshah area is administered by the Haqqani Network, a powerful Taliban subgroup. Hafiz Gul Bahadar, the top Taliban leader in North Waziristan, also has a presence in Miramshah.
The US has targeted top Haqqani Network leaders with the unmanned drones in Miramshah in the past. Jan Baz Zadran, whom US intelligence officials have described as the Haqqani Network's third in command, was killed in a Predator strike in Danda Darpa Khel, just outside of Miramshah, on Oct. 13. Jan Baz is the most senior Haqqani Network leader killed or captured in either Pakistan or Afghanistan since the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001. He was killed just two weeks after the Haqqani Network's top leader in Afghanistan was captured by US Special Operations forces in Paktia province.
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update from KHAAMA press:
A Pakistani security quoted by AFP while speaking on the condition of anonymity said, “At least six militants were killed when a US drone fired two missiles on a rebel compound in the bazaar.”

Meanwhile, a number of other Pakistani security officials said, the number of militants killed following the US drone strike on Tuesday was seven.

This comes as the Pakistani security officials earlier announced that at least three militants were killed in Tuesday’s drone attacks.

Senior Shabaab leaders rumored killed in blast

by Bill Roggio @ longwarjournal

--
Two of the top leaders in the al Qaeda-linked Shabaab are rumored to have been killed in a massive blast in a town near Mogadishu late last night. The origin of the blast is unknown, but it is thought to have been caused by a missiles fired by naval warships or unmanned US Predator drones.
Somali officials claimed that Ahmad Godane Abu Zubayr, Shabaab's spiritual leader, and Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, a top commander, were both killed in a massive blast in Afgoye, a town about 20 miles west of Mogadishu. The explosion took place at a "compound" known to be used by Shabaab, according to Sunatimes and Mareeg Online. Reuters claimed the blast took place at a "camp." Afgoye is under Shabaab control.
The rumor of the deaths of Abu Zubayr and Aweys has not been confirmed. Shabaab has not announced their deaths.
Local residents in Afgoye claimed that a high-level meeting of senior Shabaab commanders was taking place in the town.
"I am sure there was a meeting going on in the base near the orphanage. Armoured cars and expensive 4x4s were buzzing around," an Afgoye resident told Reuters.
At least two missiles are said to have detonated in Afgoye. The missiles are thought to have been launched by a warship off the coast of Somalia, or by unmanned US Predator or Reaper strike aircraft that are known to operate from bases in Ethiopia and Djibouti. US warships have launched cruise missile strikes against al Qaeda operatives in Somalia in the past.
Both Abu Zubayr and Aweys have been listed by the US as specially designated global terrorists for their links to al Qaeda. And both leaders have been previously targeted by US airstrikes. Abu Zubayr, who is also known as Ahmed Abdi Aw Mohamed, was rumored to have been wounded in a blast thought to have been caused by a US missile strike in Mogadishu in May 2009. The explosion killed 11 Shabaab fighters and three or four "foreign fighters."
Shabaab is currently fighting on two fronts against several African nations. Along with Somali troops, African Union forces made up of Ugandan and Burundian soldiers are battling Shabaab in the capital of Mogadishu, while the Kenyan military is moving forces toward the port city of Kismayo, Shabaab's de facto capital, and the town of Afmadow.
The Kenyan government invaded southern Somalia in mid-October and vowed to drive Shabaab from bases along the border. A Kenyan Army spokesman said that his country's forces would take control of Kismayo and would remain in the south until Shabaab was no longer a threat. The Kenyan advance in the south appears to have stalled, however. One month after the invasion, Kenyan troops have failed to take Afmadow, and have advanced only as far as Ras Kamboni on their way to Kismayo.

R.I.P. - Sgt. 1st Class Johnathan B. McCain


DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
            Sgt. 1st Class Johnathan B. McCain, 38, of Apache Junction, Ariz., died Nov.13, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered after encountering an improvised explosive device while on mounted patrol.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
            For more information related to this release, the media may contact U.S. Army Alaska public affairs office at 907-384-2072/1542.

R.I.P. - Spc. Calvin M. Pereda


DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
            Spc. Calvin M. Pereda, 21, of Fayetteville, N.C., died Nov. 12, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered after encountering an improvised explosive device while on dismounted patrol.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
            For more information related to this release, the media may contact U.S. Army Alaska public affairs office at 907-384-2072/1542.

Nov. 15., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

2011-11-S-023
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
For Immediate Release

KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov. 15, 2011) — A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured two Taliban leaders during a security operation in Musa Qal’ah district, Helmand province, Monday.
The leaders coordinated the movement of insurgent fighters in the Musa Qal’ah district, conducted attacks against coalition forces and distributed roadside bombs throughout the region.
The security force also detained multiple additional suspected insurgents during the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:
 
East

A combined Afghan and coalition force discovered a weapons cache during an operation in Andar district, Ghazni province, yesterday.  The cache consisted of nine rocket-propelled grenades which were seized and destroyed on site.  No casualties or damages were reported as a result of the operation.
A Haqqani network leader was captured by a combined Afghan and coalition security force during an operation in Bak district, Khost province, yesterday. The leader distributed weapons and planned attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also confiscated multiple weapons and detained one additional suspected insurgent during the operation.

Kill Bin Laden- Read it!

by Uncle Jimbo @ Blackfive.net
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341bfadb53ef015393084080970b
--
Do you remember where you were when you heard bin Laden was dead? I do, and I remember doing a particularly festive version of the dead tango dance. Now imagine an entire book about it. Not just the op, but the intel, the surveillance, and the mission prep.  The wonderful thing is you know how it turns out: He gets shot in the eye (and elsewhere) and then fed to the fishes. You will be most pleased to find out exactly how the fish feeding was done - perfectly apropos.
The book is Kill Bin Laden and there was only one guy to write it, John Weisman, who turned Dick Marcinko's SEAL stories into the Rogue Warrior series and has written many other CIA and special ops fiction and non-fiction books. He has the contacts, the knowledge, the storytelling ability and the wicked attitude needed to make this work. It is a novel so artistic license was certainly taken. You often read that a story was "ripped from the headlines". Well the headlines about this mission have been so full of BS and spin that to say that about this book would be an insult. This "novel" has more reality embedded in it than anything you've read in the press.  Many public figures make thinly-disguised appearances:  You will enjoy seeing a number of these perfumed princes get punctured.
In the end, it boils down to a great tale about a great mission. The level of detail and accuracy regarding operations is team room level and the political machinations that always seem poised to derail these operations are laid out for inspection. No actual secrets or tactics are exposed as John vets all of his work with people in a position to ensure OPSEC. He adds characters and story lines to this feel-good win and fleshes it out into a book you will read with as few interruptions as you can manage. I think we all can be inspired by a double amputee, former Ranger, as a protagonist who battles his own challenges as well as our enemies.
There are few people on Earth who deserved a return to room temperature via cranial ventilation more than Usama bin Laden. Reading about how this went down is about the best thing I can think of, well......next to watching the helmet cam footage. Short of that, I highly recommend Kill Bin Laden.

Bujol Convicted Of Trying To Help Al-Qaida

Barry Walter Bujol Jr. was convicted by a Houston federal judge on Monday of trying to sneak out of the country to join al-Qaida.
Reporter: AP 


HOUSTON (AP) -- A Texas man accused of attempting to sneak out of the country to join al-Qaida has been convicted of trying to help the terrorist organization.
Barry Walter Bujol Jr. was convicted by a Houston federal judge on Monday of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and aggravated identity theft. He faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing.

Bujol, who is a U.S. citizen, represented himself at his trial, which was heard by a judge instead of a jury.
Prosecutors say Bujol sought to join al-Qaida and to provide it with money, restricted U.S. military documents and GPS equipment.
But the 30-year-old said he never intended to help al-Qaida and wanted to leave the U.S. because he disagreed with its foreign policy


4 killed and injured in Baghlan armed clashes

Monday, November 14, 2011 – According to local officials in northern Afghanistan, at least two people were killed and two others including a children were injured following unknown gunmen attack in northern Baghlan province.
District governor for Nahrin district in northern Baghlan province Mawlana Fazal-ul-Rahman confirming the incident said, the incident took place early Monday morning after a group of armed individuals opened fire on the residents in Sobhan area of Nahrin district.
Mr. Fazal-ul-Rahman further added, at least two people were killed and two others including a woman and a child was injured following the incident.
According to Mr. Fazal-ul-Rahman, the main motive behind the clashes were personal issues.
He said, the attack was carried out by a female local commander known as the commander Kafter, who has been operating as a militant group in Nahrin for the past few years.
In the meantime, head of the provincial security commandment for the northern Baghlan province Syed Zamanuddin Hussaini said, the invaders managed to flee the area and the Afghan security forces have started a search and arrest operation to detain those involved behind the attack.
According to reports, there have been clashes between commander Kaftar militants and other local militants group in this area in the past, where a number of commander Kaftar loyalists were killed during the clashes.
It is believed that today’s incident has connections with the past incidents and carried out by the commander Kaftar fighters to avenge the casualties of their fighters, who were killed in the past.
Report by Ajmal Omeri, Baghlan province

from KHAARMA press

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