Panetta Announces Completion of Afghanistan Surge Drawdown

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Sept. 21, 2012 – The drawdown of U.S. surge forces in Afghanistan is complete as scheduled, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced here today during a news conference with New Zealand Defense Minister Dr. Jonathan Coleman.

Panetta said the return of 33,000 troops President Barack Obama committed to the war in Afghanistan in 2009 is “an important milestone.”

“As we reflect on this moment, it is an opportunity to recognize that the surge accomplished its objectives of reversing Taliban momentum on the battlefield and dramatically increased the size and capability of the Afghan national security forces,” he said.

The surge of forces allowed the United States and its coalition partners in NATO’s International Security Assistance Force to begin transitioning to Afghan security lead, he said, noting that Afghan forces soon will be responsible for leading their country’s defense in areas of every province, and for more than 75 percent of the Afghan population.

“At the same time, we have struck enormous blows against al-Qaida's leadership, consistent with our core goal of disrupting, dismantling and defeating al-Qaida and denying it a safe haven,” the secretary said.

The 68,000 U.S. service members who remain in Afghanistan combine with other nation’s forces to make ISAF around 100,000 troops strong, Panetta said. Those forces will keep working to reduce the level of violence in Afghanistan, ensure the Taliban do not regain any of their previously held areas, and strengthen the Afghan army, he added.

Panetta said Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of U.S. and ISAF forces in Afghanistan, is confident he can accomplish his campaign with the current force level.

“I have always had tremendous confidence in General Allen’s ability to say to me, ‘This is what I need in order to accomplish the mission,’” the secretary said. “Right now, he is saying the force he has in place is sufficient to accomplish that mission.”

Panetta is in New Zealand for the final stop on his third Asian tour, which also included visits to Japan and China.

U.S., Turkish Leaders Discuss Syrian War, Region

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT, Sept. 18, 2012 – U.S. and Turkish leaders have a similar view of events in Syria and agreed to work together on that and other regional issues, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey spoke about his meetings in Ankara, Turkey, during his flight back to Washington.

The war in Syria is the regional issue with the most notoriety, the chairman said. While hard numbers are tough to come by, tens of thousands of Syrians have been killed and hundreds of thousands have fled as Syrians tried to overthrow the regime of Bashar Assad.

Turkey shares a border with Syria, and thousands of Syrians have taken refuge in Turkey. Fighting in Aleppo, Syria, has caused the numbers of Syrians fleeing to spike.

Dempsey met with his Turkish counterpart, Gen. Necdet Ozel, Minister of National Defense Ismet Yilmaz and officials at Turkey’s Foreign Ministry. “We shared our insights into the common interests we are both trying to address in the region,” Dempsey said. “We agreed to recommit ourselves to collaborate on the regional issues -- not just issues unique to either Turkey or the United States.”

Syria is the epicenter of instability in the region, and events there tangle the threads that weave through the area, the chairman said. The Turks are worried about the thread of violent extremism and groups taking advantage of instability, whether those groups are al-Qaida or the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, better known as PKK.

The Turks also are worried about Iranian influence in Syria and the region, and the chairman said he and Turkish officials discussed the whole cloth these threads make.

“That’s the piece of this that I was encouraged by,” Dempsey said. “They are not looking at Syria through a soda straw any more than we are.”

The Turks told the chairman they are concerned about the prolonged nature of the conflict. They believe the longer the fighting lasts in Syria, the greater the chances of sectarian division.

The Turks discussed humanitarian efforts. More than 200,000 Syrians have fled the country, and between 400,000 and 500,000 are “internally displaced” people.

“The Turks are actually quite proud of what they have been able to accomplish in their southern provinces to help take care of the Syrians,” Dempsey said, “but they are also concerned about the continuing influx of refugees and are reaching out to the international community to assist them in that regard.”

Turkish leaders did not ask for any U.S. military assistance for the refugees. The American commitment to Turkey is “the U.S. will continue to monitor the situation, and we will continue to engage at all levels in order to think through some of the contingencies that might occur with regard to the humanitarian issue,” Dempsey said.

DOD Announces Charges Sworn Against Al Darbi

The Department of Defense announced today that the Office of the Chief Prosecutor for Military Commissions has sworn charges against Guantanamo detainee Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al Darbi, a Saudi Arabian national.

The charges sworn today allege that the accused committed offenses triable under the Military Commissions Act of 2009, 10 U.S.C. §§ 948a, et seq, including: (1) Conspiracy to Commit Multiple Offenses Triable by Military Commission; (2) Aiding and Abetting the Offense of Attacking Civilian Objects; (3) Aiding and Abetting the Offense of Hazarding a Vessel; (4) Aiding and Abetting the Offense of Terrorism; (5) Multiple Specifications of Attempt; and (6) Aiding the Enemy.  The charges are merely accusations, and the accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  The maximum sentence for these charges is confinement for life.

These sworn charges allege that al Darbi joined a terrorist conspiracy with al Qaeda by the year 1997.  In furtherance of this conspiracy, al Darbi is alleged to have attended the Khalden training camp in Afghanistan, to have received personal permission from Usama bin Laden to train at al Qaeda’s Jihad Wahl training camp, and to have worked as a weapons instructor at al Qaeda’s al Farouq training camp, both in Afghanistan.  From approximately 2000 through 2002, al Darbi is also alleged to have committed multiple overt acts in support of a plot to bomb civilian oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and off the coast of Yemen.  These alleged acts included:  receiving large amounts of money from al Qaeda; purchasing GPS devices and other equipment; purchasing a boat intended to be the attack vessel; registering this boat under the name of an unwitting participant; applying for travel documents that allowed potential attack operatives to travel from Yemen to the UAE; training these potential attack operatives; and sailing the boat he purchased towards Yemen in order to meet with these attack operatives.

In addition to the conspiracy charge, al Darbi is alleged to have aided and abetted the completed terrorist attack against the French oil tanker, the MV Limburg, which severely injured multiple civilians and caused a large oil spill in the Gulf of Aden in 2002.

The Regulation for Trial by Military Commission requires that the chief prosecutor notify the legal advisor to the Convening Authority and the chief defense counsel for Military Commissions within 24 hours of swearing charges.  The accused must also be notified of the charges sworn against him as soon as practicable.  The chief prosecutor will not immediately forward the charges to the Convening Authority for action in this case.  Once the chief prosecutor does so, the Convening Authority makes an independent determination as to whether to refer some, all, or none of the charges for trial by military commission.  If the Convening Authority decides to refer the case to trial, he will designate commission panel members (jurors). The chief trial judge of the Military Commissions Trial Judiciary then assigns a military judge to the case.

The Chief Prosecutor, Brigadier General Mark Martins, said upon the swearing of charges, “Mr. al Darbi’s alleged crimes are serious violations of the law of war that were committed to terrorize and wreak havoc on the world economy.  We will be prepared to proceed toward his trial by reformed military commission if the Convening Authority refers charges.”

Combined Forces Detain Insurgents, Seize Weapons

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 24, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents and seized multiple weapons and ammunition today during an operation to arrest an al-Qaeda associated Taliban leader in the Andar district of Afganistan’s Ghazni province, military officials reported.

The Taliban leader acquires weapons and directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region, officials said.

Two armed insurgents attacked the security force during the operation. The security force engaged and killed both attackers. No civilians were injured in the exchange.

In other news today:

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents today during an operation in Logar province’s Baraki Barak district to arrest a Haqqani leader who directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Baraki Barak and Pul-e ‘Alam districts.

-- A combined force in Logar province’s Muhammad Aghah district detained several suspected insurgents today in an operation to find a Taliban leader who, officials said, plans and directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

Airstrike Kills Insurgents in Kunar Province

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 21, 2012 – An airstrike in the Watahpur district of Afghanistan’s Kunar province yesterday killed several insurgents, including an al-Qaida affiliated Taliban leader, military officials reported.

Targeted was Mutaqi, also known as Mullah Amir Muhammad or Malik, who was responsible for passing critical information among senior al-Qaida-associated Taliban leaders in the province, officials said, and was involved in planning suicide bombing attacks in the region.

A post-strike assessment by a combined Afghan and coalition security force confirmed no civilians had been injured and no civilian property had been damaged during of the operation.

In operations today:

-- A combined force in Ghazni province’s Gelan district arrested an al-Qaida-associated Taliban insurgent who assisted in the movement of al-Qaida fighters throughout the region and conducted attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. Prior to his arrest, he was attempting to acquire explosives for future attacks. The security force also detained another suspected insurgent and seized bomb-making materials.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents in Logar province’s Baraki Barak district during a search for a Taliban leader who plans and executes attacks against coalition patrols.

In other news, a combined force in the Kabul district of Kabul province yesterday arrested the insurgent leader responsible for a July 12 bomb attack that killed Hanifa Safi, the Afghan minister for female affairs. The attack occurred in Lagham province’s Mehtar Lam district.

In an Aug. 19 operation, an Afghan crisis response unit supported by coalition troops arrested several insurgents in Wardak province’s Sayyid Abad district. The insurgents are responsible for recent attempts to abduct Afghan interpreters working for the International Security Assistance Force, and were planning to kidnap Afghan and civilian ISAF employees.

Airstrike Kills Several Insurgents in Afghanistan

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2012 – A coalition airstrike killed several insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader in the Achin district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province today, military officials reported.

During the operation, an armed group of insurgents attempted to attack the Afghan and coalition troops, officials said. The security force positively identified the armed insurgents and engaged them with a precision airstrike.

While conducting a post-strike assessment, the security force confirmed the strike had killed several of the insurgent attackers, officials said. The security force also confirmed the strike had not injured any civilians or damaged any civilian property. The security force detained one suspected insurgent.

Also today in the Terayzai district of Khost province, an Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained several suspects during a search for a Haqqani leader. The sought-after Haqqani leader has conducted several attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in recent months. He also is responsible for acquiring weapons for insurgents in the province.

In operations yesterday:

-- Haqqani network leader Hakimi was killed by a coalition airstrike in the Muhammad Aghah district of Logar province. Hakimi had served directly under the Haqqani leader for the Muhammad Aghah district and was directly involved in the transport of explosives and weapons to insurgents throughout the region. The airstrike did not injure any civilians or damage civilian property.

-- A coalition airstrike killed several insurgents during a search for a Haqqani leader in the Tsamkani district of Paktia province. The airstrike did not injure any civilians or damage any civilian property.

-- In Ghanzi province, a combined force found and cleared an improvised explosive device in the Gelan district and cleared another IED in the Ghazni district.

-- A combined force detained five insurgents who were emplacing an IED in Khost province’s Sabari district.

-- A combined force detained five insurgents in Khost province’s Gurbuz district.

-- A combined force discovered an ammunition cache in Khost province’s Sabari district.

-- In Nangarhar province, a combined force detained two insurgents who were emplacing an IED in the Bati Kot district.

-- A combined force killed two insurgents and wounded two others in the Jani Khel district of Paktika province.

-- In Wardak province, a combined force found and cleared an IED in the Sayyidabad district and another in the Maidan Shahr district.

-- A combined force detained an insurgent who was found with IED-making materials in Wardak province’s Maidan Shahr district.

-- In the Baraki Barak district of Logar province, a combined force killed an insurgent, detained several suspects and seized multiple weapons during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader.

In other news, Mufti Assad, also known as Mufti Punjabi, Abdul Qudus and Sufyan, the al-Qaida network leader for Kunar province, was killed Aug. 3 in an airstrike in the Watahpur district of Kunar province. Assad led dozens of al-Qaida affiliated fighters throughout eastern Afghanistan and provided IED training to insurgents. Yusuf, Assad’s al-Qaida network deputy, also was killed in the airstrike. Yusuf, also known as Omar and Rayhman, was an IED expert who directed insurgent attacks across eastern Afghanistan.