Kismayo Hasn’t Fallen Yet; Even If It Had, It Wouldn’t Be the End of the Shabab

from the "Inside The Shabab Insurgency" blog
Posted on September 28, 2012

In the early hours of the morning today, reportedly mostly Somali forces – according to Somali sites – were dropped by Kenyan landing ships on the beaches on the outskirts of Kismayo, the southern Somali port city that is the main target of the Kenyan war against the Shabab.

Some Somali sites report that the amphibious force is in the hundreds, but whatever their number, one thing is clear: they have not taken Kismayo contrary to what most news sites are parroting.

The source of the false news that Kismayo had fallen was a Kenyan army spokesman, Cyrus Oguna who had said that the city had “fallen with minimum resistance”. It is easy to jump the gun when, you know, you are not the one really shooting the gun.

As I have written before, losing Kismayo is not such a big deal to the Shabab: they may actually end up making more from discreet “Jihad donations” that they will collect from businesses in the region once they are forced to fully withdraw than from the port itself.

Kismayo is the second biggest city in southern Somalia, after Mogadishu. Holding it has more of a psychological effect than anything.

The battle for Kismayo is not the decisive battle that would decide the fate of the Shabab in southern Somalia, and it is not their “last stronghold” as some news sites report. The Shabab control another port city, Barawe, and many important towns in south and central Somalia. Simply put: the Shabab can drive from Kismayo all the way to near Galka’yo in central Somalia without going through enemy territory. How is that for a “last stronghold”?

it's not finished yet, read more on the blog:
"Inside The Shabab Insurgency"

R.I.P. - Staff Sgt. Orion N. Sparks, Sgt. Jonathan A. Gollnitz

9/29/2012 02:38:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died Sept. 26, in Pul-E Alam, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when an insurgent wearing a suicide vest detonated the device near their patrol. These Soldiers were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Schweinfurt, Germany.

            Killed were:

            Staff Sgt. Orion N. Sparks, 29, of Tucson, Ariz., and

            Sgt. Jonathan A. Gollnitz, 28, of Lakehurst, N.J.

            For more information, please contact the U.S. Army Europe public affairs office in Heidelberg, Germany at 011-49-162-271-6685.

---

from TucsonSentinel.com:

by Dylan Smith

A Tucson soldier, Army Staff Sgt. Orion N. Sparks, was killed Wednesday in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said Friday.

Sparks, 29, and another soldier were killed in Pul-E Alam, Afghanistan, when an insurgent wearing a suicide vest detonated the bomb near their patrol.

The soldiers were serving with the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. The Schweinfurt, Germany-based unit was deployed in Logar province in eastern Afghanistan.

Including Sparks' death, 52 troops with Southern Arizona connections have been killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars—20 in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion of that country.

The other soldier who was killed in the incident was identified as Sgt. Jonathan A. Gollnitz, 28, of Lakehurst, N.J.

Both men were members of Anvil Troop, according to the 1st Squadron's Facebook page.

Sparks "touched the lives of many soldiers during his time in Anvil. He is remembered as a contagious optimist who was always in good spirits. Someone that could relate to soldiers on a personal level and helped guide them through life. Orion was an outstanding trainer of soldiers and a leader who was not afraid to get his hands dirty and lead from the front. A true NCO to the end. He was a cornerstone in Anvil Troop," said a statement posted by Lt. Col. Whit Wright, the 173rd Airborne's commander.

"Several other paratroopers were wounded, one severely, in the same incident," Wright wrote.

---

from app.com:
By Charles Webster

A soldier from the Buffalo, N.Y. area originally reported to be from Lakehurst was killed Wednesday in Afghanistan, according to an announcement Friday by the Department of Defense.

Sgt. Jonathan A. Gollnitz, 28, of Fedonia, N.Y. and Staff Sgt. Orion N. Sparks, 29, of Tucson, Ariz. died Wednesday in Pul-E Alam, Afghanistan of injuries suffered when an insurgent wearing a suicide vest detonated the device near their patrol. The two soldiers were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Schweinfurt, Germany, according to the department announcement.

The department listed Gollnitz’s hometown as Lakehurst but he was actually a Fredonia, N.Y. native, according to his Aunt Kimberly Gollnitz.

Gollnitz was stationed, at one time, at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station, now Joint Base: McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army more than three years ago, she explained.

Lt. Col. Whit Wright, commander of the airborne cavalry unit, characterized the deaths in a prepared statement as the tragic loss of two talented, young leaders.

“Sgt. Gollnitz quickly filled a gap in the platoon's junior leadership. Bringing a quiet professionalism to his work, he was able to build a strong team of soldiers that trusted and respected him. Jonathan was also able to communicate with soldiers on a personal level and would often speak of his son and his plans for the future,”

Several other paratroopers were wounded, one severely, in the same incident, Wright added.