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By Claudette Roulo and Army Sgt. 1stClass Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON – The International SecurityAssistance Force’s campaign in Afghanistan is on track to achieve theobjectives and timeline NATO set forth at its November 2010 summit, and Americansurge forces are on schedule to return home by Oct. 1, a senior ISAF officialsaid today.
“The surge has effectively covered andenabled the training and fielding of the Afghan national security force, and isan amazing outcome in and of itself,” Brig. Gen. Roger Noble of the Australianarmy, deputy to ISAF’s operations chief, told Pentagon reporters via satellitefrom Kabul, Afghanistan.
“The blood, sweat and tears of manycoalition soldiers, especially many brave Americans, has directly delivered thetime and space for the [Afghan forces] to stand up and assume the lead for thesecurity of Afghanistan,” he added.
Citing “relentless pressure on theenemy” by Afghan and coalition forces, Noble said insurgents have been pushedout of major population centers, allowing 76 percent of the Afghan populationto live in areas of relative calm.
“In these areas, Afghans have the leadfor their own security and their own lives,” he said. “And the future ofAfghanistan is, day by day, increasingly in Afghan hands, as it must be andshould be.”
While insider attacks are an ongoingproblem, he said, ISAF is conducting a detailed analysis of every shooterinvolved to identify characteristics or traits that can be used to warncoalition forces of potential risks. A major challenge is that most of theshooters are either killed in the attacks or escape, the general acknowledged.
“But that doesn't stop you from stilldigging into their background using multiple means and actually interviewingthe ones that we detain,” he said.
Insider attacks are a long-term tacticused to erode trust, Noble said, and they increase during periods of heightenedtension, as they did in February following an incident in which coalitionforces inadvertently mishandled Korans.
Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, theISAF commander, raised the force protection level in light of the insiderattacks, Noble said, noting that the force protection level changes quite oftenas specific threats rise and fall.
The attacks are a sign that theinsurgency is struggling, Noble said.
“I've got a funny feeling that if theycould get into pickup trucks and drive into Kandahar, they would,” he said.“But they can't do that. And the surge helped do that. There's now not just thecoalition standing in the way of them, but [the Afghan security force] hasabout 350,000 who say, ‘You can't do that. You can't come back.’ And most ofthe people of Afghanistan don't want them back, either.”
Insurgents cause 81 percent of thecivilian casualties in Afghanistan, the general said, through improvisedexplosive devices, assassinations and suicide bombings. “If your only option isto erode confidence and will through extremism and violence,” he said, “theinsider threat methodology fits right into that box of things to do. … Theydon't have a lot of options other than to do that.”
Much work remains to be done, Noblesaid, and the Afghans understand that and are working to improve their vettingprocess and develop the infrastructure to support a professional army.
“It’s a problem that plagues them [aswell],” he said. “Most years, they’ve had far more attacks than we do.”
Noble also clarified recent changes toISAF's model for assisting Afghan forces. ISAF officials said in a writtenstatement yesterday that media reports on the subject were inaccurate.
“General Allen has not said that we'renever going to speak to an Afghan below kandak level again,” Noble said. “Andthat is not what's happening.” A kandak is the Afghan army’s equivalent of abattalion. Rather, he explained, Allen made adjustments due to the heightenedthreat around the "Innocence of Muslims" YouTube video, which has sparkedprotest and violence in the Muslim world.
“You would have to admit [it] has had animpact globally, … and you'd be crazy not to heighten force protection,” hesaid.
Allen is not preventing partnershippatrols below kandak level, Noble said, but simply is reinforcing a requirementto take a considered decision about when, where and how that happens.
“We're going to take all the lessons outof [the insider attacks] and check around the whole country to make sure thatthere can't be a repeat, or [to] minimize the chance of repeat,” he said.
ISAF officials try to look “forward andbackwards in context,” he added, trying to keep day-to-day activity inperspective and to remain on track for Afghanistan’s security forces to beresponsible for security throughout their country by the end 2014, the goal setat NATO’s 2011 summit.
“Being in Afghanistan, every day throwsup a different challenge, and the enemy is nothing if not innovative andcommitted,” Noble said. “So when we get hit with the insider threat problem orany new tactics, we'll leave no stone unturned to try and keep our people safe.We're not going to shy away from our commitment to be successful in thecampaign.”
1 Ekim 2012 Pazartesi
Maine Army National Guard MPs train for Afghan duties
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By Sgt. Jonathan MonfilettoNew York Army National Guard
CAMP McGREGOR, N.M. - The 488th MilitaryPolice Company of the Maine Army National Guard is here training with DivisionWest’s 5th Armored Brigade for its first deployment in the unit’s current form,as Soldiers prepare to head to Afghanistan.
Sgt. 1st Class Derek Wilcox, the unit’sguard force commander, said this will be the first time the company has beenshipped out since it began flying its own flag about four years ago.
The 488th was previously part of theMaine Army National Guard’s 169th Military Police Company, Wilcox said. The169th last deployed about five years ago.
“It’s exciting,” Wilcox said of theunit’s first tour of duty. “The unit has a really good mix of experience andyoung, new Soldiers. It’s nice to see the level of mentorship going on.”
One of those young, new Soldiers is Spc.Clay Landry, who said the tour of duty in Afghanistan will be his firstdeployment.
“I’m excited,” Landry said. “I can’twait.”
The unit will support detaineeoperations in Afghanistan, Wilcox said. “It could be anything in support of thefacility.”
During their deployment, Wilcox said, itwill be his role as guard force commander to conduct daily briefings on the safety,rules and intelligence at the facility, while conducting hourly checks toensure the safety of both the Soldiers and the detainees.
While the company is at Camp McGregorfor the next several weeks, Wilcox said, the Soldiers are scheduled to train indetainee operations, entry control points, force protection and fundamentals ofpatrolling, as well as weapons.
The unit’s preparation for thedeployment began three months ago, though, Wilcox said, when the Soldiers spentabout six weeks practicing basic warrior tasks and battle drills at their homestation in Maine.
“I think it’s a good refresher,” Wilcoxsaid of the unit’s training, both at home and in New Mexico, which includeshands-on training the Soldiers do not typically get. “It’s good to get thisrefresher training.”
Landry agreed that the training is good,noting he and his fellow Soldiers get to switch roles during each exercise sothey know as much as possible about their mission.
For example, Landry pointed out,Soldiers performing a detainee operations exercise take turns acting asdetainees and guards in a mock detention facility, while others work on thefacility’s quick reaction force.
“How the Army does it, I think it’s great,”Landry said.
Besides the company’s military training,individual Soldiers also have experience of their own from previousdeployments, as well as their civilian jobs.
“There are a good number of civilian lawenforcement and civilian corrections officers,” Wilcox said. “Being an MP unit,people who do that in the civilian world are drawn to the unit. It brings anadded level of experience to the unit.”
By Sgt. Jonathan MonfilettoNew York Army National GuardCAMP McGREGOR, N.M. - The 488th MilitaryPolice Company of the Maine Army National Guard is here training with DivisionWest’s 5th Armored Brigade for its first deployment in the unit’s current form,as Soldiers prepare to head to Afghanistan.
Sgt. 1st Class Derek Wilcox, the unit’sguard force commander, said this will be the first time the company has beenshipped out since it began flying its own flag about four years ago.
The 488th was previously part of theMaine Army National Guard’s 169th Military Police Company, Wilcox said. The169th last deployed about five years ago.
“It’s exciting,” Wilcox said of theunit’s first tour of duty. “The unit has a really good mix of experience andyoung, new Soldiers. It’s nice to see the level of mentorship going on.”
One of those young, new Soldiers is Spc.Clay Landry, who said the tour of duty in Afghanistan will be his firstdeployment.
“I’m excited,” Landry said. “I can’twait.”
The unit will support detaineeoperations in Afghanistan, Wilcox said. “It could be anything in support of thefacility.”
During their deployment, Wilcox said, itwill be his role as guard force commander to conduct daily briefings on the safety,rules and intelligence at the facility, while conducting hourly checks toensure the safety of both the Soldiers and the detainees.
While the company is at Camp McGregorfor the next several weeks, Wilcox said, the Soldiers are scheduled to train indetainee operations, entry control points, force protection and fundamentals ofpatrolling, as well as weapons.
The unit’s preparation for thedeployment began three months ago, though, Wilcox said, when the Soldiers spentabout six weeks practicing basic warrior tasks and battle drills at their homestation in Maine.
“I think it’s a good refresher,” Wilcoxsaid of the unit’s training, both at home and in New Mexico, which includeshands-on training the Soldiers do not typically get. “It’s good to get thisrefresher training.”
Landry agreed that the training is good,noting he and his fellow Soldiers get to switch roles during each exercise sothey know as much as possible about their mission.
For example, Landry pointed out,Soldiers performing a detainee operations exercise take turns acting asdetainees and guards in a mock detention facility, while others work on thefacility’s quick reaction force.
“How the Army does it, I think it’s great,”Landry said.
Besides the company’s military training,individual Soldiers also have experience of their own from previousdeployments, as well as their civilian jobs.
“There are a good number of civilian lawenforcement and civilian corrections officers,” Wilcox said. “Being an MP unit,people who do that in the civilian world are drawn to the unit. It brings anadded level of experience to the unit.”
Congressional Testimony: The Domestic Terrorism Threat
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MichaelA. Clancy DeputyAssistant Director, Counterterrorism Division FederalBureau of Investigation
StatementBefore the Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, CivilRights, and Human Rights Washington,D.C.
September19, 2012
Good Morning, Chairman Durbin, RankingMember Graham, and members of the subcommittee. It is my honor to come beforeyou to represent the Counterterrorism Division of the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation to discuss one of the highest priorities of the Bureau: thethreat posed by domestic extremists.
On September 10, 2012, the FBIdisseminated its National Terrorism Assessment on Domestic Terrorism. In theformulation of this assessment, the overall threat ranking considers intent,capability, and posture in its determination of the threat domestic extremistmovements pose in the United States. The FBI assesses that economic andpolitical events—foremost among them the coming presidential election—arelikely to provoke domestic extremists into a more active state, although thisis unlikely to drive an increase in large-scale violence. Smaller, localized actsof violence committed by domestic extremists, however, cannot be dismissed. TheFBI further assesses that domestic extremist movements pose a medium to lowterrorism threat. Specific political and economic events scheduled in 2012create the potential for greater volatility within domestic extremism thanexisted in the previous year.
In recent months, the FBI has seennumerous examples of domestic terrorism and violence committed by loneoffenders or small cells. For example, this year the FBI proactively dismantledan anarchist extremist cell comprised of five men who planned to blow up abridge in Cleveland, Ohio. Four members of the cell have pleaded guilty, andthe fifth member is going to trial. In November 2011, four members of a militiain Georgia were arrested for planning to acquire silencers and explosives touse against various U.S. government targets in Atlanta, Georgia. To date, twoof the subjects have been sentenced to 60 months incarceration and three yearsof supervised release for conspiracy to possess an unregistered destructivedevice. This summer, we have witnessed multiple high-profile lone-offendershootings. The FBI investigated each of these incidents in partnership withfederal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies as potential acts ofdomestic terrorism. Three of these shootings—at a movie theater in Aurora,Colorado; at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin; and at the Family Research Councilheadquarters in Washington, D.C.—resulted in the combined deaths of 18individuals and the wounding of over 50.
Significant political events andscheduled international and economic meetings combined with ongoing economicconcerns create the potential for greater volatility within domestic extremismin 2012 than existed in the previous year. While all domestic extremistmovements pose a threat, the following potential outcomes are especiallyrelevant in the current environment:
■Election-related events heighten theopportunity for anarchist extremism in 2012.■The 2012 election process mayrevitalize recruitment efforts for the white supremacist extremist movement.■Militia extremists are expected tocontinue targeting law enforcement and government officials in response to anyrecently enacted legislation that is perceived as infringing on theirconstitutional rights.■White-collar crime by those in theextremist “sovereign citizen” anti-government movement who exploit the housingcrisis could continue if the housing sector of the economy remains weak in2012.■Environmental extremists may engage incriminal activity—including the destruction of property—if they perceive thatlegislative efforts to protect and preserve the environment are ineffective orunsuccessful.
Over the next year, domestic extremistsare likely to maintain the intent and capability to pose a persistent threatinvolving smaller-scale bombings, assaults, firearms and explosives violations,arson, white-collar crime, threats, and other violations of federal law. TheFBI will continue to enhance its crucial partnerships with federal, state,local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies; other members of the U.S.intelligence community; and the private sector to combat the unrelenting threatof domestic terrorism.
In every domestic terrorisminvestigation—and indeed, in every investigation—we in the Bureau strive tobalance the need to keep the American public safe with the need to protectconstitutional rights, including the First Amendment rights to free speech andfreedom of assembly. Intelligence and technology are key tools we use to stayahead of those who would do us harm. Yet, as we evolve and update ourinvestigative techniques and our use of technology to keep pace with today’scomplex threat environment, we must always act within the confines of the ruleof law and the safeguards guaranteed by the Constitution. It is not enough tostop the terrorists; we must always do so while maintaining civil rights andcivil liberties. Following the rule of law and upholding civil rights and civilliberties—these are not our burdens. These are what make all of us safer andstronger. In the end, we in the FBI will be judged not only by our ability tokeep Americans safe from terrorism, by also by whether we safeguard the civilrights and civil liberties for which we are fighting and maintain the trust ofthe American people.
Thank you for the opportunity to addressthe subcommittee on the FBI’s efforts to counter domestic terrorism. I willgladly address any questions you may have.
MichaelA. Clancy DeputyAssistant Director, Counterterrorism Division FederalBureau of Investigation
StatementBefore the Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, CivilRights, and Human Rights Washington,D.C.
September19, 2012
Good Morning, Chairman Durbin, RankingMember Graham, and members of the subcommittee. It is my honor to come beforeyou to represent the Counterterrorism Division of the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation to discuss one of the highest priorities of the Bureau: thethreat posed by domestic extremists.On September 10, 2012, the FBIdisseminated its National Terrorism Assessment on Domestic Terrorism. In theformulation of this assessment, the overall threat ranking considers intent,capability, and posture in its determination of the threat domestic extremistmovements pose in the United States. The FBI assesses that economic andpolitical events—foremost among them the coming presidential election—arelikely to provoke domestic extremists into a more active state, although thisis unlikely to drive an increase in large-scale violence. Smaller, localized actsof violence committed by domestic extremists, however, cannot be dismissed. TheFBI further assesses that domestic extremist movements pose a medium to lowterrorism threat. Specific political and economic events scheduled in 2012create the potential for greater volatility within domestic extremism thanexisted in the previous year.
In recent months, the FBI has seennumerous examples of domestic terrorism and violence committed by loneoffenders or small cells. For example, this year the FBI proactively dismantledan anarchist extremist cell comprised of five men who planned to blow up abridge in Cleveland, Ohio. Four members of the cell have pleaded guilty, andthe fifth member is going to trial. In November 2011, four members of a militiain Georgia were arrested for planning to acquire silencers and explosives touse against various U.S. government targets in Atlanta, Georgia. To date, twoof the subjects have been sentenced to 60 months incarceration and three yearsof supervised release for conspiracy to possess an unregistered destructivedevice. This summer, we have witnessed multiple high-profile lone-offendershootings. The FBI investigated each of these incidents in partnership withfederal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies as potential acts ofdomestic terrorism. Three of these shootings—at a movie theater in Aurora,Colorado; at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin; and at the Family Research Councilheadquarters in Washington, D.C.—resulted in the combined deaths of 18individuals and the wounding of over 50.
Significant political events andscheduled international and economic meetings combined with ongoing economicconcerns create the potential for greater volatility within domestic extremismin 2012 than existed in the previous year. While all domestic extremistmovements pose a threat, the following potential outcomes are especiallyrelevant in the current environment:
■Election-related events heighten theopportunity for anarchist extremism in 2012.■The 2012 election process mayrevitalize recruitment efforts for the white supremacist extremist movement.■Militia extremists are expected tocontinue targeting law enforcement and government officials in response to anyrecently enacted legislation that is perceived as infringing on theirconstitutional rights.■White-collar crime by those in theextremist “sovereign citizen” anti-government movement who exploit the housingcrisis could continue if the housing sector of the economy remains weak in2012.■Environmental extremists may engage incriminal activity—including the destruction of property—if they perceive thatlegislative efforts to protect and preserve the environment are ineffective orunsuccessful.
Over the next year, domestic extremistsare likely to maintain the intent and capability to pose a persistent threatinvolving smaller-scale bombings, assaults, firearms and explosives violations,arson, white-collar crime, threats, and other violations of federal law. TheFBI will continue to enhance its crucial partnerships with federal, state,local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies; other members of the U.S.intelligence community; and the private sector to combat the unrelenting threatof domestic terrorism.
In every domestic terrorisminvestigation—and indeed, in every investigation—we in the Bureau strive tobalance the need to keep the American public safe with the need to protectconstitutional rights, including the First Amendment rights to free speech andfreedom of assembly. Intelligence and technology are key tools we use to stayahead of those who would do us harm. Yet, as we evolve and update ourinvestigative techniques and our use of technology to keep pace with today’scomplex threat environment, we must always act within the confines of the ruleof law and the safeguards guaranteed by the Constitution. It is not enough tostop the terrorists; we must always do so while maintaining civil rights andcivil liberties. Following the rule of law and upholding civil rights and civilliberties—these are not our burdens. These are what make all of us safer andstronger. In the end, we in the FBI will be judged not only by our ability tokeep Americans safe from terrorism, by also by whether we safeguard the civilrights and civil liberties for which we are fighting and maintain the trust ofthe American people.
Thank you for the opportunity to addressthe subcommittee on the FBI’s efforts to counter domestic terrorism. I willgladly address any questions you may have.
Combined Force Kills Armed Insurgents in Balkh Province
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Froman International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 20, 2012 – AnAfghan and coalition security force killed two armed insurgents during anoperation to arrest a senior Taliban leader in the Balkh district ofAfghanistan’s Balkh province today, military officials reported.
As the security force approached theTaliban leader’s suspected location, the armed insurgents maneuvered towardthem and were killed when they displayed hostile intent.
No civilians were harmed during theoperation. The security force also detained a suspected insurgent and seizedfirearms and grenades.
In other operations today:
-- An Afghan and coalition force inKandahar province’s Khakrez district arrested a Taliban informant who issuspected of acquiring and providing information regarding Afghan and coalitionsecurity operations to Taliban leaders operating throughout the region. He alsois believed to provide guidance to insurgents for roadside bomb attacks. Thesecurity force also detained an alleged insurgent and seized explosivematerials.
-- In Khost province’s Bak district, anAfghan-led security force supported by coalition troops detained suspectedinsurgents and seized firearms during an operation to arrest a Haqqani networkleader who is believed to coordinate attacks throughout the region,specializing in the use of roadside bombs.
In other news, Afghan and coalitionforces today confirmed the death of Qari Yahya, an Islamic Movement ofUzbekistan leader, during a Sept. 18 operation in Kunduz province’s Qal-al-yeZal district.
As the security force approached QariYahya’s location, he and another IMU leader maneuvered from the compound anddisplayed hostile intent. Qari Yahya was killed, and the other IMU leader wasarrested without injury. No civilians were harmed during the operation.
Qari Yahya was directly responsible forfacilitating and conducting roadside bomb attacks and maintained communicationand logistics ties with senior IMU and Taliban leaders.
The security force also detained otherinsurgents in the operation.
Froman International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 20, 2012 – AnAfghan and coalition security force killed two armed insurgents during anoperation to arrest a senior Taliban leader in the Balkh district ofAfghanistan’s Balkh province today, military officials reported.
As the security force approached theTaliban leader’s suspected location, the armed insurgents maneuvered towardthem and were killed when they displayed hostile intent.
No civilians were harmed during theoperation. The security force also detained a suspected insurgent and seizedfirearms and grenades.
In other operations today:
-- An Afghan and coalition force inKandahar province’s Khakrez district arrested a Taliban informant who issuspected of acquiring and providing information regarding Afghan and coalitionsecurity operations to Taliban leaders operating throughout the region. He alsois believed to provide guidance to insurgents for roadside bomb attacks. Thesecurity force also detained an alleged insurgent and seized explosivematerials.
-- In Khost province’s Bak district, anAfghan-led security force supported by coalition troops detained suspectedinsurgents and seized firearms during an operation to arrest a Haqqani networkleader who is believed to coordinate attacks throughout the region,specializing in the use of roadside bombs.
In other news, Afghan and coalitionforces today confirmed the death of Qari Yahya, an Islamic Movement ofUzbekistan leader, during a Sept. 18 operation in Kunduz province’s Qal-al-yeZal district.
As the security force approached QariYahya’s location, he and another IMU leader maneuvered from the compound anddisplayed hostile intent. Qari Yahya was killed, and the other IMU leader wasarrested without injury. No civilians were harmed during the operation.
Qari Yahya was directly responsible forfacilitating and conducting roadside bomb attacks and maintained communicationand logistics ties with senior IMU and Taliban leaders.
The security force also detained otherinsurgents in the operation.
30 Eylül 2012 Pazar
Oregon National Guard participates in Salute the Troops event
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120825-Z-PL933-009, a photo by oregonmildep on Flickr.
120825-Z-PL933-009, a photo by oregonmildep on Flickr.
A boy looks through the sights of a Howitzer, part of the display put on by the Oregon Army National Guard at the 2012 Salute the Troops 125 race event at the Portland International Raceway, in Portland, Ore., Aug. 25-26. This is the fourth year that the Oregon Army National Guard has participated in this event. Photo by Sgt. Jason Van Mourik, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.
Oregon Airman recognized during 2012 ANG Outstanding Airmen of the Year ceremony
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2012 ANG Outstanding Airmen of the Year ceremony, a photo by The National Guard on Flickr.
2012 ANG Outstanding Airmen of the Year ceremony, a photo by The National Guard on Flickr.
Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, the director of the Air National Guard, and Chief Master Sgt.
Christopher E. Muncy, the command chief master sergeant to the director of the ANG, present Senior Master Sgt. Luke W. Thompson, 125th Special Tactics Squadron, Oregon ANG, with the Outstanding Airman Ribbon during the 2012 ANG Outstanding Airmen of the Year awards ceremony at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md., Aug. 22.
The ANG Outstanding Airmen of the Year ceremony recognizes the ANGs six top performers for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements.
National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Marvin Preston.
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