Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Heavy arms cache recovered in Baghlan province

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 – According to Afghan security officials in northern Afghanistan, Afghan national police forces seized a huge amount of explosive devices and several rounds of heavy arms in northern Baghlan province.


 Wednesday, November 23, 2011 – According to Afghan security officials in northern Afghanistan, Afghan national police forces seized a huge amount of explosive devices and several rounds of heavy arms in northern Baghlan province.

Baghlan provincial police chief Gen. Asadullah Shirzad while speaking during a press conference on Wednesday said, the arms and explosive devices includes around 700 rounds of mortar missiles, 27 rounds of RPG missiles, 2 boxes of anti-aircraft bullet rounds and 10 boxes of explosive devices.
Gen. Asadullah Shirzad further added, the arms and explosive devices were seized in Khenjan and central Baghlan districts of northern Baghlan province.

He also said that no suspect has so far been detained in connection to arms and explosive devices cache.

This comes as Afghan police forces earlier seized around 8 kgs of morphine in this province while the smugglers were looking to transport the mentioned amount of morphine to Mazar-e-Sharif city of northern Balkh province.

Afghan police forces managed to arrest at least two suspects for smuggling the morphine to Mazar-e-Sharif city.

Report by Ajmal Omeri, Baghlan province.

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Cooking With the Troops needs your help

from Bouhammer
Cooking With the Troops needs your help:
Bob and Blake who are the driving force behind Cooking With The Troops are great guys that are true patriots and have done wonders for our service-members around the world. They have cooked for troops from San Antonio to Landstuhl, Germany.

More can be explained in this video then I ever could type here.



To read a great wrap-up dispatch of their recent trip to the Brooke Army Medical Center (the premier DODDepartment of Defense burn center) in San Antonio, TX check out http://cwtt.org/homefront-support/an-amazing-time-at-bamc/#more-79. There are awesome pictures and videos up there of the work they do and the impact they have had on troops lives and even the lives of those who volunteer to help.

CWWT has been running this fundraiser from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and I feel terrible that this is the first post I have gotten up for them. However it is not too late. They need your help and to highlight the great things they do, they just announced the following BIG NEWS.

I imagine that few who read this will not know the name Richard D. “Dick” Winters. While the movieBand of Brothers made him famous, he was already well known within the military community for his outstanding leadership. His accomplishments make him an excellent exemplar for all the outstanding leadership shown on D-Day and beyond by those who led men in combat, which is the basis for theRichard D. Winters Leadership Project of the WWII Foundation.

As part of this effort, a statue of Dick Winters is being dedicated on 6 June 2012 in Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy, with a reception afterwards at the Utah Beach Museum. It is an honor and a pleasure to tell you that Cooking with the Troops will be providing the refreshments at the reception. Our goal is not just to provide tasty and appropriate food and drink to those attending, but to involve as many veterans-to-chefs and troops/vets interested in culinary/hospitality careers as possible.

We will not be able to do this without your help. Please help us help the current generation even as we honor those who served before.

Please click the button below to help out CWWT and donate a few dollars towards and organization that provides a meal worth being thankful for all throughout the year.

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Cross removed at base in Afghanistan

A large cross that had been prominently displayed outside a chapel on an isolated military base in northern Afghanistan was taken down last week, prompting outrage from some American service members stationed there.


by Tim Mak at POLITICO | 11/23/11 4:18 PM EST


A large cross that had been prominently displayed outside a chapel on an isolated military base in northern Afghanistan was taken down last week, prompting outrage from some American service members stationed there.

“We are here away from our families, and the chapel is the one place that feels like home,” a service member at Camp Marmal told POLITICO. “With the cross on the outside, it is a constant reminder for all of us that Jesus is here for us.”


“Not having it there is really upsetting,” added another. “I walk by the chapel daily on the way to chow and the gym, and seeing the cross is a daily reminder of my faith and what Jesus accomplished for me. It is daily inspiration and motivation for me to acknowledge my faith and stay on the right path.”

Camp Marmal is a German base that hosts NATO forces. The interfaith chapel in question is supervised by the U.S. Army.

The soldiers said they found great comfort in the chapel — and the cross visible outside. “Sometimes the Church and the ability to openly express religious views ultimately gets people through the deployments over here,” one told POLITICO by email.

The service member said he asked the base chaplain, a military officer, what had happened to the cross. “I had to take it down,” said the chaplain, according to the solider, without further explanation.
Pentagon spokesperson Commander William Speaks confirmed the cross was removed and told POLITICO, “The removal was, in fact, in accordance with Army regulations” and pointed out that the Army chaplain manual prohibits permanent display of religious symbols.

“Distinctive religious symbols, such as crosses… will not be affixed or displayed permanently on the chapel interior, exterior or grounds,” reads the manual.

Speaks said the cross had been up since mid-October; the service members said it was longer.
The two characterized the removal of the cross as an attack on their religion and noted that there had been no complaints from Muslims — there are two mosques on the base — or Jews, who had recently conducted a service in the chapel without incident.

“I really don’t understand why Christians are always attacked. If it was a crescent moon on top of a mosque, it would never be taken down,” said an Army serviceman.

“We would just like to know where the line is. The chaplains wear different religious symbols on their uniforms depending on which religion they are. Is that the next thing to be targeted?” added a second service member.

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New Drone Sensor Could Instantly Spot Any Shooter

Opening fire on American troops could mean an instant death sentence for insurgents, if an ambitious new Air Force plan works out. The flying branch has asked industry to develop a new heat and motion sensor capable of detecting enemy gunfire from 25,000 feet over the battlefield — and then swiftly directing a bomb or missile onto the shooter.

Installed on the Air Force’s existing fleet of Reaper drones, the gunfire-detection system would make attacking U.S. troops a highly risky proposition. The Air Force wants to link the fire-detector with other Wide Field-of-View (WFOV) sensors like the Gorgon Stare, which uses a bundle of cameras to watch over miles at a time. The sensors entered service on Reapers this year. “The goal of this effort is to provide an event (enemy and friendly weapons fire) detection system that can provide real-time notification that can be overlaid on WFOV motion imagery by sensor operators,” the Air Force solicitation reads.

Gunfire-detection systems already exist. But combining aerial shot-detection with full-motion video poses huge technological challenges. Shot-spotter rely on listening for small-arms fire — which ain’t easy, given how loud drones can be. (The military has tested models for helicopters, though. And those are even noisier.) The sensor must be able to tell the difference between a gunshot and, say, a truck backfiring — and between good guys and bad. “The determination of military utility of a hostile-fire sensor will be heavily dependent on its capacity to distinguish between friendly and hostile fire in order to avoid fratricide,” the solicitation cautions.

In theory, a single Reaper drone could scan a battlefield with a wide-view sensor, detect and pinpoint gunfire and swoop down to attack — all in mere seconds. Even if it works flawlessly, don’t expect the process to be entirely automated. The Air Force requires a human operator to approve all drone weapons releases.


by David Axe at wired.com
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87th Sappers on Patrol (HD video)

thx to























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R.I.P. - Cpl. Zachary C. Reiff

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
            Cpl. Zachary C. Reiff, 22, of Preston, Iowa, died Nov. 21 of wounds suffered Nov. 18 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
            For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at 760-725-8766.

At least 25 Taliban militants killed in Afghan operations

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 –
Officials in the ministry of interior of Afghanistan following a statement said, at least 25 Taliban militants were killed and 6 others were killed and injured following Afghan national police operations across the country during the past 24 hours.

The statement further added, the operations were conducted jointly by Afghan national police, Afghan national army, Afghan national directorate for security forces and international coalition forces.

The statement also said, the operations were conducted in Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan and Paktia provinces.

Afghan security forces also seized some weapons and ammunitions including hand grenades, improvised explosive device during the operations.


IED explosion injures at least 3 NATO troops near Kabul

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 – According to government officials, at least three NATO-led International Security Assistance Force service members were injured following a roadside improvised explosive device explosion on Kabul – Parwan highway on Tuesday night.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 –
 According to government officials, at least three NATO-led International Security Assistance Force service members were injured following a roadside improvised explosive device explosion on Kabul – Parwan highway on Tuesday night.

The officials further added, the incident took place after a vehicle belonging to German troops struck with a roadside bomb on Kabul-Parwan highway injuring at least three German troops.
According to security officials, the incident took place in Qarabagh district of capital Kabul and a vehicle belonging to foriegn forces was destroyed during the incident.

District chief for Qarabagh Khwaja Mohammad Hanif confirming the incident said, investigations have been started to detain those involved behind the incident.
NATO officials yet to comment regarding the incident.

10 robbers including 5 policemen detained in Baghlan

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 – According to local security officials in northern Afghanistan, at least 10 criminal suspects including 5 Afghan police service members were detained by Afghan security forces in northern Baghlan province.









Wednesday, November 23, 2011 – According to local security officials in northern Afghanistan, at least 10 criminal suspects including 5 Afghan police service members were detained by Afghan security forces in northern Baghlan province.


Provincial police chief for northern Baghlan province Gen. Asadullah Shirzad said, the suspects were detained in various regions of northern Baghlan province, who were committing various crimes including armed robberies in this province.

Gen. Shirzad further added, at least five of the suspects were detained in Dahana-e-Ghori in Pul-e-khumri city of northern Baghlan province. The suspects were committing armed robberies in the area.
According to Gen. Shirzad, at least two Afghan police service members were also among the 5 detained in Dahan-e-Ghori area of Pul-e-Khumri city.

Provincial police Gen. Asadullah Shirzad also said, at least three other Afghan police service members were also detained in northern Baghlan province for committing crimes such as receiving money from the drivers in Pul-e-Khumri – Dushi highway.

Residents of the northern Baghlan province while praising the operations of Afghan police forces in this province urged for further actions by them to bring further stability in the area.
This comes as Afghan security forces earlier detained the deputy security chief of district#1 along with one of his commanders in Pul-e-Khumri city for money robbery of money ex-changers in this province.
Report by Ajmal Omeri, Baghlan province

Commandos conduct operations in traditional insurgent stronghold

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The 1st Commando Kandak, combat advised by coalition special operations forces, conducted clearing operations in Merdesh village, Kamdesh district, Nov. 20.











Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan Media Operations Center
Story by Staff Sgt. Fritz Butac

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The 1st Commando Kandak, combat advised by coalition special operations forces, conducted clearing operations in Merdesh village, Kamdesh district, Nov. 20.

The operation was successful in disrupting insurgent freedom of movement and operations in the traditional insurgent stronghold. Twenty-one insurgents were killed in the operations and seven insurgents were detained by the commandos. All detainees remain in commando custody.

The commandos confiscated numerous weapons and insurgent propaganda. 

“This [operation] shows the Afghan people that [insurgents] do not have freedom of movement throughout Nuristan,” said a coalition SOF team member. “The local populace was happy to see a legitimate Afghan force conducting operations in Nuristan.” 

No civilian injuries or collateral damage to the villages was reported.

Afghan National Army special forces and coalition special operations forces speak with a village elder during a presence patrol, Sayed Abad district, Nov. 6. The forces visited three villages in the area to distribute items and ask about the living conditions and needs of the villagers. Photo by Sgt. Lizette Hart 


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Helicopter Crashes Installing Christmas Tree in NZ (+video)


Nov.23., 2011., Wednesday -
 A helicopter in New Zealand crashed Wednesday while helping to install a Christmas tree on Auckland's waterfront. The pilot escaped serious injury.


Footage captured by Television New Zealand on Wednesday shows the pilot slowly descending from about 25 feet (8 meters) when the chopper's blades appear to get caught in cables attached to scaffolding. The rear of the helicopter snaps and the pilot is tossed about as the helicopter smashes into the ground.

Although the incident took place in a heavily populated area, there were no serious injures reported on the ground.
The television station reported that Greg Gribble, who has 20 years experience as a pilot, says he's "doing fine" after his ordeal.





Pakistani Taliban spokesman denies ceasefire

The Pakistani Taliban’s spokesman on Wednesday denied the group had agreed to a ceasefire or is in peace talks with the government, a claim that followed shortly after militants attacked a police station in the northwest, killing two officers.

Photo: REUTERS
Pakistani Taliban group commander Mullah Dadullah (R), speaks to the media in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area of Kunar and Bajaur tribal region, September 6, 2011.

Peshawar, Pakistan, Nov., 23. 2011. Wednesday -
The Pakistani Taliban’s spokesman on Wednesday denied the group had agreed to a ceasefire or is in peace talks with the government, a claim that followed shortly after militants attacked a police station in the northwest, killing two officers.

Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed responsibility for the attack, which came two days after a senior Pakistani Taliban commander told The Associated Press that the group declared a ceasefire across the country a month ago to encourage nascent peace talks with the government.

It’s unclear whether the conflicting statements represent opposing positions within the Pakistani Taliban leadership about whether the group should pursue peace with the government following years of fighting that has killed tens of thousands of militants, civilians and security personnel.

A third senior Pakistani Taliban commander told the AP on Wednesday that the group has declared a ceasefire to encourage talks, but both were limited to the South Waziristan tribal area, which served as the militants main sanctuary before the military launched a large offensive in 2009.
The two senior Pakistani Taliban commanders spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Wednesday’s attack on the police station occurred in Dera Ismail Khan, a city near the border with South Waziristan. A dozen militants threw grenades at the Daraban station and then gunned down two officers inside, said police officer Sohail Khan. Four policemen were wounded, and the militants managed to escape with guns and police uniforms, said Khan.

Mr. Ehsan, the Pakistani Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attacks saying it was proof that the group has not agreed to a cease-fire and is not in peace talks with the government.
“If we had announced a ceasefire, we would not have attacked the police station,” Mr. Ehsan told the AP by telephone from an undisclosed location.
He also claimed responsibility for recent attacks on police in the Orakzai tribal region and in the city of Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Even if the Pakistani Taliban leadership in South Waziristan agreed to a ceasefire, it’s unclear whether all the militants claiming to be under the group’s banner would obey the directive.
The Pakistani Taliban, allied with al-Qaeda and based in the northwest close to the Afghan border, have been behind much of the violence tearing apart Pakistan over the last 4½ years. At least 35,000 people have been killed in guerrilla attacks and army offensives.
The Taliban want to oust the U.S.-backed government and install a hard-line Islamist regime. They also have international ambitions and trained the Pakistani-American who tried to detonate a car bomb in New York City’s Times Square in 2010.

The United States, which has pounded the Taliban with missiles fired by drones, wants Pakistan to keep the pressure on insurgents and would likely be concerned about any effort to strike a deal. Many of America’s fiercest foes in Afghanistan – as well as al-Qaeda operatives from around the world – live alongside the militants in the Pakistani region of North Waziristan.

Anonymous Taliban and intelligence officials said recently that government intermediaries have met with Taliban commanders periodically over the past six months to talk about a possible peace deal.
Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Tuesday that the government has not held formal talks with the Pakistani Taliban. The army also denied being involved in talks.
Pakistan has cut deals with militant factions in the past, several of which quickly broke down after giving the insurgents time to regroup.

Army offensives against the Taliban are unpopular among many Pakistanis, many of whom view the militants as misguided Muslim brothers rather than terrorists. Right-wing and Islamist parties that support their aims have long called for a peace deal.

This view appeared to get traction in September when government leaders, opposition politicians and other national figures met in Islamabad and produced a vague resolution in support of peace moves with militants. Despite this, the government’s official line is that they will talk only with militants who lay down their arms.
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Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for police station attack

The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for an early Wednesday morning attack on a police station that killed two officers and injured seven others, a spokesman for the militant group told CNN.

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for an early Wednesday morning attack on a police station that killed two officers and injured seven others, a spokesman for the militant group told CNN.

Approximately 10 militants charged the police station, tossed grenades and then opened fire in the predawn attack, said senior police official Sohail Khalid.
The militants escaped after an hour-long firefight with police, Khalid said.

The attack took place in Dera Ismail Khan, a district that sits next to Pakistan's militant-plagued tribal region along the Afghan border.

It comes one day after Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan denied reports that the militant group had declared a cease-fire while holding peace talks with the government.
Wednesday morning's attack was proof that reports of the cease-fire were false, Ehsan told CNN by phone.
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R.I.P. - Pvt. Jackie L. Diener II

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
            Pvt. Jackie L. Diener II, 20, of Boyne City, Mich., died Nov. 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
            For more information the media may contact the Fort Drum Public Affairs at 315-408-3087 or email bruce.m.drake@us.army.mil .

Nov. 23., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov. 23, 2011) — A Taliban leader was captured today by a combined Afghan and coalition security force after returning to  Afghanistan from Pakistan.

Wali Mohammad and four of his associates were detained during a security operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province. The security force received information that Mohammad was visiting southern Afghanistan after being in hiding for several years in Pakistan.





2011-11-S-039
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
For Immediate Release

KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov. 23, 2011) —
A Taliban leader was captured today by a combined Afghan and coalition security force after returning to  Afghanistan from Pakistan.

Wali Mohammad and four of his associates were detained during a security operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province. The security force received information that Mohammad was visiting southern Afghanistan after being in hiding for several years in Pakistan.

Wali Mohammad was the Taliban leader behind numerous suicide and spectacular attacks that targeted and killed multiple civilians in southern Afghanistan. Mohammad fled the country and has been hiding across the border since he escaped during a raid of the Kandahar Sarposa Prison in 2008.

Mohammad was also closely connected to the Taliban’s Chief of the Rahbari Shura and the direct-subordinate of high-level military leaders in the insurgent network.

In addition to Mohammad, four associates a quantity of bomb making materials were also seized.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South
Local Afghans led a combined Afghan and coalition patrol to a drug cache by locals in Nawah-ye Barakzai, Helmand province, today. The cache consisted of 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of ammonium nitrate and four bags containing a combined 400 pounds (181 kilograms) of poppy seeds. The materials were seized by the security force for later destruction.

East
A coalition security force discovered a weapons cache based on a tip during an operation in Bagram district, Parwan province, yesterday.  The cache consisted of nine 122mm artillery rounds and two 115mm artillery rounds. All of the weapons were destroyed on site and no civilian casualties or damages were reported as a result of the operation.

West
A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a weapons cache in Shindand district, Herat province, today. The weapons cache consisted of seven mortars and 35 explosive munitions, which were destroyed at the scene. There were no reported damages or casualties as a result of the demolition.

A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents during an operation in search of a Haqqani facilitator in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Nangarhar province, yesterday. The facilitator distributes weapons to Haqqani fighters and conducts in-direct fire and roadside bomb attacks in the Pul-e ‘Alam district.
A Taliban leader was captured by combined Afghan and coalition security force in Bati Kot district, Nangarhar province, yesterday. The leader directed insurgent fighters to attack Afghan forces. Two additional suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.

A Haqqani network leader was captured by a combined Afghan and coalition security force during an operation in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, yesterday. The leader operated a roadside bomb attack cell and supplied bomb making materials to insurgents throughout the region. The security force detained two additional suspected insurgents during the operation.

A Haqqani network leader was captured by a combined Afghan and coalition security force during an operation in Zarghun Shahr district, Paktika province, yesterday. The leader coordinated roadside bomb attacks against Afghan forces. One additional suspected insurgent was detained during the operation.

A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained multiple suspected insurgents during an operation in search of a Haqqani network leader in Sabari district, Khost province, yesterday. The leader constructs and places roadside bombs in Sabari district, and sells weapons to insurgents throughout the region. The security force confiscated multiple firearms and grenades during the operation.
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Afghan special forces capture IED facility

HELMAND, Afghanistan (Nov. 20, 2011) –
 Afghan National Army Special Forces (ANASF), partnered with Coalition Special Operations Forces (SOF), located and captured an enemy Improvised Explosive Device (IED) facility in Malozai village, Sangin district, Nov. 20.    


By Sgt. Christopher Hammond
Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force


HELMAND, Afghanistan (Nov. 20, 2011) – Afghan National Army Special Forces (ANASF), partnered with Coalition Special Operations Forces (SOF), located and captured an enemy Improvised Explosive Device (IED) facility in Malozai village, Sangin district, Nov. 20.
     
ANASF and SOF received a tip about the facility’s location from the Afghan Local Police while conducting a security patrol in the area.           

As they entered the facility, they discovered one completed IED and a carbon rod pressure plate with 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate.  Upon further inspection of the facility, ANASF and SOF explosive ordinance disposal discovered and assessed that the facility was rigged to detonate with multiple anti-tampering hazards throughout.

Once the threat was assessed, the ANASF cleared the surrounding compounds of all villagers and the security element continued to push further out and into the surrounding areas.

The facility contained 63 pressure plates, more than 100 battery packs, 30 pounds of ammonium nitrate and one 60 mm mortar shell.  In addition, they discovered Russian munitions, three 30 mm grenades, one bag of aluminum powder and AK-47 assault rifle ammunition.
 
ANASF and SOF team members safely secured and detonated the ammunition in place and transported the rest, which couldn’t be detonated due to the risk of causing nearby damage, to a local Afghan compound.

 No injuries or property damage occurred during the controlled detonation.
 

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