Afghan, Coalition Forces Arrest Extremists During Search

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2013 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested two extremists during a search for a Taliban leader in the Sar-e Pul district of Afghanistan’s Sar-e Pul province yesterday, military officials reported.

The Taliban leader oversees a group responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, facilitates the movement of weapons throughout northern Afghanistan and collects illegal taxes from civilians to fund extremist activities.

In June 15 Afghanistan operations:

-- A combined force in Logar province’s Muhammad Aghah district killed five extremists and wounded another during a search for a senior Taliban leader who plans, enables and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also facilitates the movement of improvised explosive device materials, weapons and equipment and supplies extremists with suicide bombs.

-- In Paktia province’s Sayyid Karam district, a combined force killed four extremists and wounded another during a search for a senior Haqqani network leader who commands extremist cells that attack Afghan and coalition forces. He also facilitates the movement of fighters within Paktia and Khost provinces and coordinates directly with senior Taliban leadership.

-- A combined force in Logar province’s Muhammad Aghah district killed two extremists during a search for a Haqqani network leader who oversees ambushes and complex attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He procures IED components, builds IEDs and trains extremists in their use. He also plans suicide IED attacks against Afghan government officials and facilitates the distribution of mines, IEDs, and weapons to extremist cells.

-- Afghan local and uniformed police found and neutralized an IED in Logar province’s Baraki Barak district. The national security directorate received a tip about a possible IED and passed the information to the district police chief, who assembled a patrol that found and neutralized the IED after ensuring the safety of nearby civilians.

-- A combined force in Paktia province’s Sayyid Karam district killed an extremist and wounded two others during a search for a Haqqani network leader who oversees an IED network.

In June 14 operations:

-- Afghan local police found and destroyed six IEDs in Kandahar province’s Panjw’i district while patrolling around a newly established checkpoint.

-- Afghan special forces soldiers, advised by coalition forces, detained three enemy fighters in Farah province’s Bala Boluk district during an operation designed to disrupt Taliban activity.

Combined Force Makes Arrest During Search for Facilitator

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 14, 2013 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested an enemy operative during a search for an al-Qaida facilitator in the Behsud district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province today, military officials reported.

The facilitator coordinates the delivery of weapons, military equipment and money to al-Qaida and operational cells for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said. He also relays messages for senior al-Qaida leaders.

Also today, a combined force in Wardak province’s Sayyidabad district arrested an extremist during a search for a Taliban facilitator who acquires and distributes weapons, ammunition, improvised explosive devices and other equipment for high-profile attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces in three provinces. He also coordinates training for new enemy fighters.

And yesterday, the highest-ranking Taliban leader in Kunduz province’s Archi district was killed, along with his top military advisor.

Qari Halim, also known as Zubair, was responsible for command and control, finance and logistical efforts for extremists in the region. He oversaw a group of about 50 fighters who have engaged in ambushes and IED operations against Afghan and coalition forces.

Under his orders, his military advisor directed and executed attacks targeting Afghan government officials and Afghan and coalition forces.

Face of Defense: Sisters Serve Together in Afghanistan

By Army Sgt. Sinthia Rosario
101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, June 13, 2013 – When soldiers deploy, they leave behind their families and friends. It’s one of the hardest sacrifices that soldiers make and accept.

Army Cpl. Victoria P. Stokes and Army Spc. Alisa M. Matthews chat during their deployment at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, June 12, 2013. The soldiers are sisters from Lumberton, N.C., who are deployed together from Fort Campbell, Ky. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sinthia Rosario   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

But for two sisters who are deployed here together, it is a comfort for them to have each other at their side.

Army Cpl. Victoria P. Stokes, a human resources specialist with Task Force Lifeliner, and Army Spc. Alisa M. Matthews, a geospatial engineer with Combined Joint Intelligence, have been close since they were growing up in Lumberton, N.C.

Stokes, the elder sister, joined the Army first, but that wasn’t their first separation. The first time the sisters were separated was when Matthews went off to college. Stokes described the void that was left when her sister went off to school.

“Reality hit me,” she said. “I broke down and cried."

While Matthews was gone for four years working on her educational goals, her sister joined the Army to follow in their father’s footsteps. A few years later and after finishing school, Matthews also enlisted.
Stokes said she was elated when she got the word from her little sister that she’d be joining her at Fort Campbell, Ky.

“I was at school when I found out I was going to Fort Campbell,” Matthews said. “I was so excited, because we hadn’t been together in years. [I thought], ‘It’s going to be like old times.’”

Though they were serving in different units on Fort Campbell, it came as no surprise to the sisters when they learned they would be deploying to Afghanistan and would serve at the same base.

The sisters said they gain strength from each other as they face similar challenges. They work different shifts, but they still make it a point to check up on one another as often as possible.

“At times, it’s kind of hard,” Stokes said. “We don’t see one another as much as we would like to, but we always find a way to see each other. I go to her room or to the [Joint Operations Center], where she works, to spend time with her.”

Stokes has been in the Army for six years and has a previous deployment. Matthews has been in the Army for only a couple of years, and this is her first deployment. Stokes has been mentoring and guiding her sister, and is helping her to prepare for an upcoming promotion board.

Through their childhoods, the sisters said, they were able to lean on and confide in each other. As they move through adulthood, they added, they’re finding their connection in their personal and professional lives has allowed them to continue to grow together and strengthen their bond.

NSA Chief Urges Public Debate of Terrorist Surveillance

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2013 – Now that the existence of classified National Security Agency data-gathering efforts have been leaked to the public, the head of U.S. Cyber Command and NSA said yesterday he wants the public to understand the programs “so they can see what we’re doing and what the results of it are.”

The National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Md. NSA photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Among the results, Army Gen. Keith B. Alexander told the full Senate Appropriations Committee, is the disruption or contributions to the disruption in the United States and abroad of “dozens of terrorist events.”

Alexander testified along with interagency partners from the Homeland Security Department, the FBI and the National Institute of Standards and Technology during a hearing that U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, the committee chair, convened to discuss preparing for and responding to the enduring cyber threat.
But several senators -- given their first chance to question Alexander since NSA contractor Edward Snowden leaked information to newspapers June 6 about classified surveillance practices -- abruptly asked about the leaks and about legislation authorizing the practices.

In his leaks to the media, Snowden described two NSA surveillance programs authorized by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which Congress created in 2008. Section 702 of FISA authorizes access to records and other items of foreign targets located outside the United States under court oversight.
Section 215 of the Patriot Act broadened FISA to allow the FBI director or another high-ranking official there to apply for orders to produce telephone records, books and other materials to help with terrorism investigations.

Revelations about the programs have launched a debate nationwide about privacy, because Section 215 allows NSA to collect something called metadata -- information about call length and connections -- for phone calls that occur inside the United States and between the United States and other countries.

“These authorities complement each other in helping us identify different terrorist actions and … disrupt them,” Alexander told the senators. “If you want to get the content [of the phone calls], you'd have to get a court order. In any of these programs … we [need] court orders for doing that, with oversight by Congress, by the courts and by the administration.”

Some of the senators asked for details about terrorism cases that the NSA surveillance programs have helped, and Alexander named a few but said he intended to bring a classified list of them to today’s closed session of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

But Alexander said he also wanted to provide an unclassified version -- if he could make that happen, he said -- this week that could be released to the public.

“I think this is an area where we have to give [Congress and the American people] the details. They need to understand it so they can see what we're doing and what the results of it are,” he added.

“We all had this concern coming out of 9/11 -- how are we going to protect the nation,” the general said, “because we did get intercepts on [Khalid Muhammad Abdallah al-Mihdhar], but we didn't know where he was. We didn't have the data collected to know that he was a bad person.”

Mihdhar was one of five hijackers of American Airlines Flight 77 who flew that aircraft into the Pentagon as part of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

“Because he was in the United States,” Alexander continued, “the way we treated it [then] is that he's a U.S. person, so we had no information on him. If we didn't collect that [information] ahead of time, we couldn't make those connections.”

Now through its surveillance programs, the NSA creates a set of telephone metadata from all over the United States, and only under specific circumstances can officials query the data, he said.

“And every time we do, it's auditable by the [congressional] committees, by the Justice Department, by the court and by the administration,” Alexander said. “We get oversight from everybody on this.”

The collection of U.S. telephone metadata is one of the elements that should be debated nationally, Alexander said, but he described why it was helpful in terrorism cases to do so.

“Let's take Mihdhar,” he said. “[Congress] had authorized us to get Mihdhar's phones in California, but Mihdhar was talking to the other four teams [in other parts of the country].

“Today, under the business-record FISA, because we had stored that data in the database, we now have what we call reasonable, articulable suspicion. We could take that [phone] number and go backwards in time and see who he was talking to,” the general continued. “And if we saw there were four other groups, we wouldn't know who those people were -- we'd only get the numbers. We'd say, ‘This looks of interest,’ and pass it to the FBI. We don't look at U.S. identities. We only look at the connections.”

Alexander said he would like to see a nationwide debate on such topics for a couple of reasons.

“I think what we're doing to protect American citizens here is the right thing,” he said. “Our agency takes great pride in protecting this nation and our civil liberties and privacy, and doing it in partnership with this committee, with this Congress, and with the courts. We aren't trying to hide it. We're trying to protect America, so we need your help in doing that. This isn't something that's just NSA or the administration. … This is what our nation expects our government to do for us.”

Alexander said he’s not the only official involved in getting information declassified, but added, that if he can make it happen, he will.

“I do think what we're doing does protect American civil liberties and privacy,” he told the Senate panel. “The issue is [that] to date, we've not been able to explain it, because it's classified, so that issue is something we're wrestling with.”

“How do we explain this and still keep the nation secure?” he asked. “That's the issue that we have in front of us.”

Combined Force Kills Extremists in Kunduz Province

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 13, 2013 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed five extremists after being fired upon during a search of a senior Taliban leader in the Archi district of Afghanistan’s Kunduz province today, military officials reported.

The Taliban leader builds improvised explosive devices and suicide vests and has also directed and coordinated attacks that have killed Afghan security force members.

The security force also seized a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, three RPGs, four machine guns and ammunition.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- Afghan uniformed and local police establishing a new checkpoint in Kandahar province’s Panjwai district with coalition advisors found and destroyed five IEDs.

-- Afghan commandos conducting a clearance operation in Nangarhar province’s Chaparhar district detained three enemy fighters.

Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Extremists in Wardak Province

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 12, 2013 – An combined Afghan and coalition security force killed four extremists and wounded another during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Sayyidabad district of Afghanistan’s Wardak province yesterday, military officials reported.

The senior leader controls about 70 extremist fighters responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also oversees local weapons trafficking and reports on extremist operations to higher-ranking Taliban officials.

In other Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- Afghan commandos and special forces soldiers and coalition forces killed an enemy fighter and destroyed homemade explosives and improvised explosive devices in Kandahar province’s Panjwai district.

-- A senior Taliban leader was killed in Nangarhar province’s Khugyani district. He facilitated the movement of enemy fighters and weapons, and he oversaw a group responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- Afghan forces wounded and arrested an insurgent who was part of a group that attacked an Afghan army patrol in Paktika province’s Jani Khel district. The district police chief organized and led the counterattack.

-- A combined force in Logar province’s Pul-e Alam district killed four extremists during a search for a senior Haqqani network leader who plans attacks and facilitates the movement of enemy weapons and fighters in the area.

Army Casualty

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

Staff Sgt. Jesse L. Thomas Jr., 31, of Pensacola, Fla., died June 10, in Helmand, Afghanistan. The incident is under investigation.

He was assigned to the 39th Transportation Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Kleber Kaserne, Germany. 

For more information, media may contact the 21st Theater Sustainment Command public affairs office at 011-49-631-413-8104, or after duty hours please contact 011-49-162-234-2338.

Combined Force Kills Extremists in Nangarhar Province

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 11, 2013 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed five extremists during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Khugyani district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province today, military officials reported.

The sought-after Taliban leader coordinates movement of weapons and fighters through the district and oversees a group responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

The security force also destroyed a machine gun and several rocket-propelled grenades in the operation.
In Kandahar province’s capital city of Kandahar today, a combined force arrested the ranking Taliban official for the province’s Panjwai district. He oversees assassinations, improvised-explosive-device attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces, collects illegal taxes to finance extremist activities, and facilitates the movement of weapons.

Army Casualties

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

They died June 8, in Sharana, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered from small arms fire received at Zarghun Shahr, Afghanistan.  The soldiers were assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. 

Killed were:

Lt. Col. Todd J. Clark, 40, of Evans Mills, N.Y., and

Maj. Jaimie E. Leonard, 39, of Warrick, N.Y. 

For more information please contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at 315-772-8286

Combined Force Kills Extremists During Search for Taliban Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2013 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed two extremists during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Warduj district of Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province yesterday, military officials reported.

The leader is the province’s ranking Taliban official, and he coordinates and facilitates large-scale attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, including a March 13 ambush on Combat Outpost Bara Bara, which resulted in the death of 16 Afghan soldiers, officials said.

He also supports kidnapping operations and illegally taxes the civilians of Badakhshan to fund extremist activities.

In other Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- Afghan special operations soldiers in Baghlan province’s Pul-e Khumri district captured a Taliban leader who builds, stores and distributes improvised explosive devices.

-- A combined force in Kandahar province’s capital of Kandahar arrested a Taliban leader who builds IEDs and oversees a group that uses them for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the provincial capital. The security force also arrested two other extremists.

-- In Paktia province’s Zurmat district, a combined force arrested five extremists during a search for a Taliban leader who coordinates attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces. He also oversees kidnapping operations and directs the execution of kidnapping victims, raids local villages to extend Taliban power, and relays operational guidance from senior Taliban leadership to his fighters. The security force also seized a rifle in the operation.

In June 8 news and operations:

-- Two U.S. International Security Assistance Force service members and one U.S. civilian were shot and killed by an individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform in eastern Afghanistan. ISAF and Afghan officials are continuing to assess the incident and more information will be released as appropriate.

-- A combined force in Sar-e Pul province’s Sar-e Pul district killed two enemy fighters who opened fire during a search for a senior extremist leader with ties to the Taliban and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. The senior leader is responsible for attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces. He facilitates the movement of IED materials, controls several Taliban groups, plans assassinations and kidnappings, and illegally taxes civilians in the area.

-- Afghan commandos killed six enemy fighters in Daykundi province’s Gizab district after responding to reports from the district police chief that extremists were attacking local police checkpoints. The commandos recovered two assault rifles.

-- In Paktia province’s Sayyid Karam district, a combined force arrested two extremists during a search for a senior Haqqani network leader who coordinates and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and oversees distribution of weapons and equipment. He also interfaces with top Haqqani officials to communicate strategic guidance to front-line fighters. During the operation, the security force found and destroyed a stockpile of weapons and explosives.

-- A combined force in Helmand province’s Nad-e Ali district arrested a Taliban leader who oversees a group responsible for attacks and assassinations targeting Afghan and coalition forces. He also facilitates the movement of weapons and supplies, and he builds and plants IEDs. The security force also arrested 11 other extremists.

In June 7 operations:

-- In Balkh province’s Sholgarah district, a combined force killed a Taliban facilitator who distributed weapons, equipment and ammunition to several extremist networks, and planned attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and illegally taxed and extorted money from local residents. The security force also arrested another extremist.

-- A combined force in Kunar province’s Darah-ye Pech district killed an extremist and wounded another while searching for the Taliban’s top military official for the province’s Waygal district. He facilitates the movement of al-Qaida members in Waygal district, erecting and enforcing illegal checkpoints, kidnapping Afghan officials and leading attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In Kunar province’s Watahpur district, a combined force killed three extremists while searching for a senior extremist leader who is responsible for al-Qaida training in the district. Senior al-Qaida leadership sends money, weapons, supplies and new recruits to him for instruction in terrorism operations, and he then leads them in attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces.

Afghanistan rocket attack tested three D-M Purple Heart honorees

by Senior Airman Camilla Griffin
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

6/7/2013 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.,  -- Injuries sustained during a 2012 rocket attack in Afghanistan earned three Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Airmen Purple Hearts.

On Oct. 5, 2012, a 107mm rocket hit the air conditioning unit directly outside the Metals Technology shop at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, injuring the 355th Equipment maintenance Squadron Airmen.

Airmen 1st Class Michael Kristopik and Garron Reeves, both structural maintenance technicians and Airman 1st Class Tyler Angelo, aircrafts metals technology journeyman, were on a six-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Angelo was working on a lathe making a bushing when he heard a couple of loud bangs. He wasn't entirely sure what it was, because the warning sirens had not gone off. As he turned around to gauge a co-worker's reaction, a rocket hit the shop.

"I saw Kristopik and Reeves about 50 feet away from me. The next thing I saw was a bright flash of light, then dust and smoke everywhere...Kristopik and Reeves were gone," Angelo said. "I was almost 100 percent sure they were dead, because they were right next to where the rocket hit."

Angelo took cover behind a maintenance mill. Angelo felt pressure on the right side of his head but was more concerned with putting on his protective Kevlar than finding the source of the pressure. When the opportunity presented itself, Angelo ran to the bunker where other Airmen pointed out he had shrapnel sticking out of his head.

Kristopik and Reeves were sitting in the break room getting ready for the shift to turn over when the chaos began.

"I suddenly heard what sounded like a car door slamming," Kristopik said. "Almost simultaneously, one of the National Guard Airmen took off as two blasts shook the building."

Kristopik and Reeves realized it wasn't a car door at all.

"I was on the phone with my mom when we heard the first rocket hit," Reeves said. "I didn't want to alarm her, so instead of using the word 'rocket', I asked Kristopik 'Is that thunder?' hoping he would understand the reference."

Once they determined it was, in fact an attack, both Airmen followed protocol.

"I started to run for the bunker as did everyone else in the room," Kristopik said.

While running for the door, Kristopik heard more explosions and wished he had his Kevlar on. Once he was out of the building, another explosion sounded behind him and he was thrown to the ground. The 107mm rocket hit the air conditioning unit, which was located 10 feet from the shop door and about 15 feet behind Kristopik and Reeves.

"The force of the explosion slammed me to my hands and knees. It felt like I was tackled by a defensive lineman," Kristopik said. "While on my hands and knees, I noticed blood on the ground in front of me. The first thing that ran through my mind was that someone was hurt, and then realized that it was me that was bleeding. It looked as though I had been peppered with a shot gun."

Kristopik lost sight of Reeves and was worried because he heard him give out a yell.

"I took cover on the side of a storage container and yelled his name out three times, but did not get a reply," Kristopik said. "I was really worried about him. But with the shop covered in a dust cloud, and metal and hardware scattered everywhere, there was nothing I could do but get to the bunker, let everyone know that I was okay and then get help to search for Reeves."

The Airmen credit their military training for their reaction during the attack. Angelo says his "flight or fight" training kicked in and he knew what to do to survive.

"Had I never received that training I would have freaked out," Kristopik said. "I would have been more concerned about myself, as opposed to making sure everyone else was alright."

The Airmen recently received their Purple Hearts during a ceremony at D-M.

Hagel describes post-ISAF Afghanistan mission

by Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

6/10/2013 - BRUSSELS -- The United States will be the largest single contributor to the follow-on NATO operation that will replace the International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan in 2015 and beyond, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said at NATO headquarters June 5.

Hagel told reporters during a news conference that defense minister meetings brought some clarity to the "Resolute Support" operation NATO will launch to train, advise and assist Afghan forces after those forces have assumed full security responsibility by the end of 2014.

The secretary spent two days in meetings with his fellow NATO defense ministers, with  sessions on June 5 centered on planning alliance support for post-2014 Afghanistan.

Hagel's news conference followed NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen's. Rasmussen told reporters Resolute Support will be a much smaller mission with five regional components: one each in Afghanistan's east, west, north and south, and the fifth in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Rasmussen explained the train, advise and assist mission will put trainers at the national level, such as the ministries of defense and interior, and at the corps level of Afghan army and police forces.

Hagel said the U.S. role will be as the overall framework nation, with geographic responsibility in the east and south, the areas of strongest insurgent resistance to the Afghan government.

"We appreciate the commitments other nations are making, including the announcements by Germany and Italy that they will serve as lead nations for the west and the north," the secretary said. "Turkey has also indicated they are favorably considering serving as the framework nation in Kabul."

Hagel said U.S. support will include "new, expert, professional assistance to the [Afghan] army in the area of contracting and fuel support, not just soldiers." He added, "We intend to be there for the long haul, and I made that commitment very clear today."

The secretary also discussed NATO nations' defense spending in an era when growing security challenges strongly signal the need to invest in new capabilities. Hagel said ministers discussed how to plan such investment in the face of widespread budget constraints among alliance members.

Hagel noted his own department is studying ways to cut spending, but added that he assured his counterparts that the United States is "not considering any reductions that will affect NATO's ability to fulfill its core tasks of collective defense, crisis management and cooperative security."

The U.S. commitment to NATO remains ironclad, the secretary said. "Still, overdependence on any one country for critical capabilities brings with it risks," he said. "And as European defense investment continues to decline, the alliance's dependence on the United States is growing."

Hagel said he told his fellow ministers that to justify U.S. investment in the alliance to the American people, "we must be able to demonstrate that our NATO partners are willing to ... share in this burden."

Turning to cyber, the secretary said the NATO defense ministerial session devoted exclusively to cybersecurity that occurred June 4 sharpened ministers' awareness that failure to get ahead of the threat could lead to "loss of life or serious economic consequences."

Rasmussen noted June 4 that NATO will form rapid-response teams to counter cyberattacks on its own networks and, eventually, to aid allies who request assistance in the face of attacks on their systems.

Libya also was an agenda item this week, Hagel noted. Defense ministers agreed to respond to the Libyan government's request for training assistance, he added.

"We will develop a plan for how NATO can play a role in boosting the capacity of the Libyan government to secure its borders and counter terrorism," he said. "This effort will enhance security for the Libyan people, and it will help address a security challenge on Europe's southern flank."

Hagel said now is a defining time for the transatlantic alliance, noting that President Barack Obama and Rasmussen agreed during their meeting last week to hold a NATO summit in 2014.

"This summit will help keep the alliance on a path for the future, following the end of the combat mission in Afghanistan," he said. "I look forward to working to help defend our common interests

DOD Announces Charges Against Abd al Hadi al Iraqi

The Department of Defense announced today that military commission charges have been sworn against Guantanamo detainee Abd al Hadi al Iraqi, an Iraqi national.

The charges allege that Abd al Hadi, as a senior member of al Qaeda, conspired with and led others in a series of perfidious attacks and related offenses in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2004.  “Perfidy” is an offense triable by military commission in which those who are the targets of attack are killed, injured, or captured after the attackers have “invit[ed] the confidence or belief... that [the attackers] were entitled to... protection under the laws of war.”  The charges allege--

  •  that Abd al Hadi joined al Qaeda by 1996;

 
  •  that, in furtherance of the group’s hostile and terrorist aims, he served as a high-ranking leader on various senior councils that set al Qaeda’s agenda and policies;

•  that he was a significant al Qaeda liaison to the Taliban, to al Qaeda in Iraq, and to other allied groups;

•  that Abd al Hadi commanded al Qaeda’s insurgency efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan, during which he supported, supplied, funded, and/or directed attacks against U.S. and coalition forces;

•  that these operations made use of a variety of unlawful means, including attacking civilians, detonating vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) in civilian areas, detonating suicide vests in civilian areas, and firing upon a medical helicopter as it attempted to recover casualties; and

 
 •  that Abd al Hadi directed his fighters to kill all coalition soldiers encountered during their attacks, thereby denying quarter to potential captive or wounded coalition soldiers.

Following his tenure as commander of al Qaeda’s insurgency in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the charges allege that Abd al Hadi continued his liaison role with al Qaeda in Iraq and was ultimately assigned by Usama bin Laden to travel to Iraq to assume a position among the leadership of al Qaeda’s insurgency there. 

The maximum sentence for these charges, should the accused be convicted, is confinement for life.  These charges are merely accusations.  The accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

 Upon swearing of the charges, the chief prosecutor endorsed and forwarded them to the convening authority, Paul L. Oostburg Sanz, who must now make an independent determination whether to refer some, all, or none of them for trial by military commission.  If he refers the charges, the convening authority will also designate commission panel members, who, if they are not excused following examination and challenge by prosecutors and defense counsel, will eventually serve as jurors during the trial.  The chief trial judge of the Military Commissions Trial Judiciary would then assign a military judge to the case.  Counsel for the accused has been notified of the charges sworn against him.

 The chief prosecutor, Brig. Gen. Mark Martins, has detailed Mikeal Clayton of the Justice Department to the case as trial counsel, and Air Force Lt. Col. Dale Riedel as deputy trial counsel.

Seabee Builder Mentors Junior Sailor

By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Garas
Naval Construction Battalion 15

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan, June 5, 2013 – The military has an instructional manual for almost everything, but Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Wray knows experience is not in any manual, and that there’s no better way to gain it than having a mentor.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Wray installs a door at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 22, 2013. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Garas    (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Wray is a construction builder assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 15, but his computer talents have resulted in his assignment to the training department here. “At first, I thought I was going to helping for a few days,” he said. “It turned into a full-time position.”

Wray soon found himself permanently assigned to Headquarters Company’s training shop managing the Advanced Skills Management program instead of serving in E Company as a builder. But when an opportunity to work on a camp maintenance project presented itself, Wray seized the opportunity.

“I saw it as an opportunity to get some real builder rate training, so I accepted,” he said.
For this project, Wray was assigned under the tutelage of Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Niles to assist him with a complete door installation, including wall, studs and frame, at the Combat Logistics Regiment 2 compound. Niles is an experienced builder with six years of experience in the Seabees, and even more as a full-time civilian construction worker.

After arriving at the construction site, the two loaded their materials and began to work.
“I prefabricated the door and showed [Wray] how to frame it up, and then we installed it,” Niles said. “If you don’t do it every day, you are going to have a little bit of a struggle.”

Wray appreciated the help he got from Niles. “At first, I was kind of rusty,” he said. “It was kind of nice to get back out and build.”

Niles mentored Wray through the project and assisted him when necessary. He noted that it wasn’t long before Wray regained his form and that he had little trouble for the rest of the project.
As he watched Wray work, Niles said, he was aware that having more experienced Seabees mentoring junior ones on projects like this is important.

“I think it’s good to have mentors, because you are saving a lot time by preventing them from running into mistakes that you once made yourself,” he explained. “I think there’s a lot to learn from it.”

After completing the project, Wray also noted that having Niles present was essential not only for getting the job done in a timely manner, but also for helping him to exercise his skill set.

“It was definitely nice having [Petty Officer] Niles there,” he said. “And with his help, I was able to pick up a few skills.”