R.I.P. - Sgt. William C. Stacey

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Sgt. William C. Stacey, 23, of Redding, Calif., died Jan. 31 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

            For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at 760-725-8766.

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UPDATE:
releasted news/video by www.kirotv.com:
http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/seattle-marine-killed-afghanistan/nHRTB/

he was from Seattle, Washingtom...meanwhile the DOD release said he was from Redding, Ca


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He was a mortarman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, according to a news release from Camp Pendleton.

Stacey began serving in the Marine Corps Jan. 3, 2007. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan.

His personal service awards include the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze star devices, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver star device, and the NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.

"The Marines and sailors of 1st Marine Division mourn the loss of Sgt. Stacey," the news release said. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family."
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a fantastic tribute article by  Lawrence Dabney:
The Tragedy and Grace of Sgt. William Stacey

Will was killed this morning by an IED blast somewhere in Now Zad district of Helmand province. He was the only casualty, though another marine was injured by a second IED. He was on a dismounted foot patrol and some halfwit insurgent managed to cram enough explosive material into the bomb that it killed him. He’ll be buried in Arlington, I hear. Today was his mother’s birthday.

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Hungary PRT complete 15 km road gravel work in Baghlan

Hungarian Provincial Reconstruction Team of the northern Baghlan province following a press release announced the completion of gravel work of 13 km of road and around 40 bridges and culverts in Dand-e-Ghori district of northern Baghlan province, with a cost of around $600,000.

The source further added, road gravel work in Dand-e-Ghori district which connects various suburbs and villages, was completed in 90 days and was formally inaugurated by Afghan local government officials and Hungarian officials and US special forces officials in the presence of the local tribal elders.

The press release added, the completion of road gravel work will resolve the issues of the local residents, and the bridges and culverts construction will provide facilities for the local residents to easily access health clinics and other social needs.

Hungarian PRT officials emphasized on the importance of the road in respect of the security and said, Afghan security forces will be able to easily control the suburbs and villages by using the new road.

Commander of the Hungary PRT in northern Baghlan province Colonel Dr. Romulusz Ruszin praised the cooperation of the Afghan security forces and local residents for the gravel work of the road and construction of bridges and culverts.

The Hungarian Provincial Reconstruction Team earlier completed gravel work of 1,500 meters of road in Pul-e-Hashim area at northern Pul-e-Khumri city.

Report by Ajmal Omeri, Baghlan province.

from KHAAMA

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Three rebels killed in clashes in Sudan's East Darfur

KHARTOUM, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least three members of Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) were killed when they attacked an area in Sudan's East Darfur State and clashed with local citizens, Khartoum Al-Ahdath daily reported Wednesday.

The paper quoted Al-Daif Iyssa Elao, a local official in East Darfur State, as saying that "the JEM forces attacked areas belonging to Bahral-Arab locality in East Darfur State, which resulted in the killing of three of the attackers and injury of three citizens in the area."

He said the citizens have managed to repulse the JEM rebels and confiscated an armed vehicle belonging to the attackers, according to the report.

The local official further urged the importance of sending more armed forces to completely repulse the movement from the area.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the JEM forces since the announcement by the movement's leader Khalil Ibrahim in November 2011 on the borderline between North and South Kordofan states.

Four rebel movements have recently announced the establishment of an alliance called Sudan Revolutionary Front with the aim of toppling the regime in Khartoum. 

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Various weapons and ammunitions seized in Baghlan province

According to security officials in northern Afghanistan, Afghan security forces seized a weapon cache in northern Baghlan province during a military operation.

Provincial intelligence, national directorate for security officials following a press release on Tuesday said, the weapons cache seized by the Afghan security forces consisted of almost 1 ton of ammunitions and explosives and various weapons including 2,100 rounds of heavy machine gun ammos, 2,100 rounds of anti-aircraft gun ammos, 940 rounds of other heavy machine gun ammos, 45 rounds of rocket launcher missiles, 1 heavy machine gun and 1 medium-sized machine with six magazines.

The source further added, the weapons and ammunitions were seized from Jalga and Khenjan districts of northern Baghlan province.

The statement also said, no suspects have been detained in connection to the arms cache however Afghan police forces have launched an investigation and search operation in this regard.

This comes as the Afghan intelligence security forces seized at least 1 ton of ammunitions from the same districts a week earlier.

Report by Ajmal Omeri, Baghlan province.

from KHAAMA

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13 die in drone strike in Pakistan on Wednesday

At least 13 people were killed when a U.S. drone launched three missile strikes in Orakzai region of Pakistan's northwest tribal belt on Wednesday, local media reported.

According to the report by local TV channel Geo, the attack was launched in wee hours in the morning when a U.S. drone fired three missiles at a militants'hideout in Darand Shekhan area of upper Orakzai agency, a militancy-hit tribal area where Pakistan army has been battling local and foreign Taliban militants for the past four months.

The report said that six foreigners were also among the killed militants and the dead bodies have been shifted to other areas of Orakzai after the drone attack.

In another attack which also happened on early Wednesday, Pakistan army killed 13 militants and destroyed five hideouts in the same area. Some media reports have said that this operation was carried out by a combination of Pakistani jets and U.S. drones.


Wednesday morning's drone strike came just one day after Foreign Office Spokesperson Abdul Basit stated that drone attacks are unacceptable to Pakistani government because they are unlawful and counterproductive.

This is the fourth strike of its kind in northwestern tribal area of Pakistan and the first of its kind in Orakzai agency since the beginning of 2012. To date, 27 people have been killed and several others injured in 11 missile strikes launched by U.S. drones.

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Another Afghan soldier kills NATO service member

KABUL, Afghanistan -- An Afghan soldier shot and killed a NATO service member in southern Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday, the latest in a string of similar attacks that has raised concerns about relations between Afghan troops and foreign allies.

International forces and the Afghan army disagreed on exactly what happened in the killing.

ISAF:
"An individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform turned his weapon against an International Security Assistance Force service member in southern Afghanistan yesterday, killing one service member."

Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings, a spokesman for the international military force, said Afghan soldiers detained the gunman after he attacked NATO troops Tuesday night. The coalition gave no other details.

Afghan National Army commander Sayed Malluk confirmed the shooting, which he said happened during a night patrol in Helmand province's Marjah district. But he said the Afghan soldier, who has been in the army for more than two years, told investigators the shooting was an accident.

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Pakistani jets bomb militant positions near Afghan border, killing 31

Image by Omer Wazir via Flickr

PARACHINAR, Pakistan — Government officials say Pakistani fighter jets bombed militant positions in two different areas along the Afghan border, killing 31 suspected insurgents.
Political administrators Wajid Khan and Ameer Gul say the strikes occurred Wednesday morning in the Orakzai and Kurram tribal areas.

One of those killed was reported to be a Pakistani Taliban leader in Orakzai region named Moin ud Din, said one security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

It was not possible to independently confirm the information because the areas are effectively off-limits to reporters.
The strikes followed clashes between soldiers and militants over a strategic mountaintop in Kurram that killed over 60 people in the last week.
The Pakistani military has launched a series of offensives against militants in the country’s semiautonomous tribal region in the past few years.

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11 soldiers killed in Balochistan

QUETTA: Baloch rebels attacked security forces overnight, killing at least 11 soldiers and wounding another 12 in clashes that raged for five hours, officials said Wednesday.

About two dozen gunmen attacked two posts in Margut, about 60 kilometres east of Quetta, capital of the insurgency-torn southwestern province of Balochistan. The soldiers were responsible for guarding coal mines, they said.

“About two dozen gunmen armed with light and heavy weapons attacked the Frontier Corps (paramilitary) posts and killed 11 soldiers,” a senior military official said.

He said another 12 soldiers were wounded in the assault.

Other security officials confirmed the casualties.

The assailants belonged to a Baloch militant group led by Harbiar Marri who is living in self exile in London, the official said.

Baloch rebels have been fighting since 2004 for political autonomy and a greater share of profits from Balochistan’s wealth of natural oil, gas and mineral resources.

from tribune.com.pk

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Feb.01., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Feb. 01) — In Kandahar district, Kandahar province, an Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation today.
The leader executed direct attacks against coalition forces in Tarnek wa Jaldak district, Zabul province.

Multiple suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South
An Afghan led and coalition supported security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation in Maiwand district, Kandahar province, today. The leader operated an attack cell in Helmand province and conducted attacks in Nahr-e Saraj and Sangin districts.

In Shah Joy and Qalat districts, Zabul province, an Afghan led and coalition supported security force conducted multiple security and stability operations yesterday. The security force detained two suspected insurgents during the operations. The detainees were taken into custody by Afghan security forces for further questioning.

East
In Darah-ye district, Kunar province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a drug cache during a patrol yesterday. The cache consisted of approximately 880 pounds (400 kilograms) of hashish. Security forces destroyed all drugs on site without incident.

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