Afghan Transition Timeline Remains On Track, Official Says

By Amaani Lyle

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2012 – An International Security Assistance Force official charged with leading the transition to an Afghan-led security force says the plan is proceeding on schedule along with the anticipated completion of the NATO mission by the end of 2014.

In a briefing for Pentagon reporters via satellite from Afghanistan, British Army Brig. Gen. Richard Cripwell ISAF strategic transition group director, said “The importance of this process cannot be overstressed,” noting Afghan National Security Forces now have responsibility for the security 75 percent of the country’s population.

“The responsibility for leading security is not one they take lightly, but it is one that they relish,” he said. “In simple terms, they know what they have to do and they are proving that they can do it every day.”

During a NATO summit in Chicago last month, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai released details of stage three in a five-stage process to transition foreign forces from a combat to a support role while simultaneously grooming Afghan security forces to independently take security reins.

“As a result of that, every capital in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan is now into transition,” Cripwell said of the nation’s forces. “Their ability to plan and conduct operations is improving all the time and they are now routine.”

Cripwell expressed confidence that Afghan forces will stay invested in the process as the nation strengthens its security and sovereignty.

“Brigade operation requires a properly trained and indeed a resourced force,” the general said. “This is very serious soldiering [and] it’s a significant achievement on their part to have come this far in the time that they have.”

The general, however, did not dismiss challenges along the way, such as the spate of green on blue incidents in which some Afghans have attacked coalition members.

“Any death out here is an absolute tragedy and it is more so when it is caused by Afghan forces,” Cripwell said. “Every single day, there are tens of thousands and more ongoing relationships between ISAF forces and the Afghans. These attacks are absolutely not representative of the huge … majority of the Afghan forces and they are as dismayed by them as we are.”

ISAF Transition Director to Brief Live from Afghanistan

British Army Brig. Gen Richard Cripwell, director, International Security Assistance Force Strategic Transition Group, will brief the media live from Afghanistan at 10:30 a.m. EDT, June 20, in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973) to provide an update on current operations.

Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification. Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.

Face of Defense: Broadcaster Teaches Iraqi Police

By Army Sgt. Kissta M. Feldner

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

RAMADI, Iraq, Sept. 26, 2011 – Iraqi police serving here in Anbar province are becoming more independent as they conduct their own missions and capture terrorist leaders, requiring less and less U.S. assistance as time goes on.

However, negative reports from unsupportive news agencies and journalists using bad information can overshadow this good news. The Iraqi police decided to take matters into their own hands to ensure the public knows the truth.

Assisting the Iraqis in getting out their story is Army Sgt. Tony McCaslin, public affairs broadcaster for the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, and native of Fairfield, Maine.

An award-winning broadcast journalist, McCaslin was chosen to provide an instructional class to the media team at the Anbar Police Directorate in Ramadi, on Sept. 15.

McCaslin taught the Iraqis basic videographer skills to improve their ability to tell their story.

“The better their stories are, the more people will want to watch them,” McCaslin said. “And if the people know the Anbar police have the facts, the people will trust them.”

Iraqi police Lt. Ali Fakhri Abbas, media relations and public affairs director, said Iraqi officials noticed the Iraqi police public affairs cameramen were making mistakes, which is why they asked the Americans for training.

“This is our job,” Ali said. “And we wanted to get more knowledge from the U.S. forces before they leave.”

McCaslin chose to cover composition and video sequencing techniques that make the video more interesting to the viewer. But when the class began, he realized even those skills were more complex than most of the policemen were used to.

“Halfway through the class, I found out that some of them didn’t even know how to use their new camera,” he said. “What a lot of broadcasters would consider basic, they were having trouble with.”

McCaslin changed his focus to covering basic features on the camera. The policemen recently purchased a professional-grade video camera, which was a huge step up from their old handhelds, and therefore more difficult to operate. The buttons are in English, adding another training issue for the native Arabic speakers.

McCaslin familiarized himself with the camera’s settings as the policemen gathered close. One issue the Iraqi videographers surfaced was that footage they shoot in the harsh Iraqi sun would become overexposed and unusable. McCaslin showed them how to adjust the camera’s white balance and filter features.

After the demonstration, he handed the camera off to class members to perform the techniques covered earlier in the day. The men practiced different camera angles, rule of thirds, and perspective shots to help them achieve varied effects.

“I could tell they were excited to use the new camera and to figure it out for the first time,” he said. “I saw that they really want to do this.”

The Iraqi police media teams throughout Anbar province have worked with U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army units in the past to improve their video abilities. After receiving classes and new equipment, they have become an integral part of police operations in Anbar as they have now created their own television program.

‘The Punishment’ is a widely watched series that highlights arrests made by the Iraqi police, including confessions from the criminals and on-the-scene re-enactments of the crimes. A broadcast of this type is just one way the Iraqi police media teams are broadening outreach to local audiences.

“They’re making that connection between the police and the citizens of Anbar,” McCaslin said, “and that makes all the difference.”

Coalition Troops in Iraq Capture 12 Suspected Terrorists

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 25, 2008 - Coalition troops in Iraq captured seven suspected terrorists during operations today in Baghdad and Beiji, military officials said. In Baghdad, coalition forces captured a wanted individual allegedly involved in the facilitation of weapons, improvised-explosive-device materials, vehicles, and suicide bombers for use in al Qaeda in Iraq attacks. Reports indicate the suspect also is linked to foreign terrorist-facilitation networks, including several terrorists currently operating outside of Iraq.

In Beiji, coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and four additional suspects. One of the wanted individuals reportedly is a leader of an al Qaeda-affiliated media and propaganda network. The other wanted individual was captured at a follow-on location and is believed to be an al Qaeda sniper-cell leader. Both wanted individuals are linked to numerous terrorist leaders in the region, including the senior leader of the Beiji network.

During another anti-insurgent operation in the Beiji area, two suspected terrorists were detained while coalition forces targeted an alleged al Qaeda in Iraq member associated with terrorist media and propaganda operations.

Also today, coalition forces detained three suspected terrorists during an operation in Mosul.

Yesterday, northeast of Samarra near the Hamrin Mountains, coalition forces targeted a suspected al Qaeda in Iraq associate who allegedly serves as an interrogator at a terrorist prison and training camp in the region. Reports indicate the individual facilitates weapons purchases and fighter movements in the area.

Intelligence reports led coalition forces to a location where the targeted individual was believed to be operating and they engaged, killing one armed terrorist and destroying a vehicle.

Also yesterday, coalition forces captured five suspected insurgents near Baghdad. One detainee is believed to be an al Qaeda in Iraq cell leader. Reports indicate the suspected terrorist was responsible for an Oct. 30 car-bomb attack that targeted a coalition forces patrol. The detainee also is linked to trafficking weapons throughout the southern Baghdad region and reportedly was planning an attack in the capital city area. Four other suspected terrorists also were captured during the operation. Coalition forces also captured two wanted individuals yesterday in Mosul.

"We will continue to pursue al Qaeda in Iraq and other extremists wherever they take sanctuary," said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "Their indiscriminate attacks and oppressive practices will not be tolerated, and we stand committed with Iraqi security forces to end their campaign of terror."

In Jan. 21 Iraq operations:

-- Coalition troops and concerned local citizens discovered and destroyed 30 improvised explosive devices and some weapons caches during operations conducted south and southeast of Baghdad. Among the IEDs found, 16 were pressure-plate activated, seven were command-wire activated, one was an explosively formed projectile, or EFP, and one consisted of various explosives. Eleven weapons caches were found. One cache contained 20 IEDs, plus 83 57 mm rounds and 70 60 mm rounds. Additional caches contained various munitions ranging from 57 mm rounds to 125 mm artillery rounds as well as IED-making materials.

-- An Iraqi special weapons and tactics team from Haditha captured four suspected terrorists in Barwanah during the unit's first solo operation. The Iraqi SWAT team had participated in four other operations accompanied by U.S. special operations troops as advisors.

In other Iraq news, Iraqi and U.S. soldiers announced they'd cleared a key travel route between Baghdad and Baqouba of IEDs during operations this month as part of Operation Phantom Phoenix. The area of the road between Khan Bani Saad and Baqouba had been so heavily covered in IEDs that vehicles had to take other routes to travel between Baghdad and Baqouba, officials said.

"This was a hugely successful brigade-level operation planned and led by the Iraqi army," said Army Lt. Col. Marshall Dougherty, a U.S. commander who participated in the operation. "The (Iraqi) commander laid out his plan and asked us to provide assets to support his effort such as helicopters, close-air support and artillery."

Coalition and Iraqi forces also killed an estimated 41 al Qaeda in Iraq operatives. In addition, Iraqi and U.S. troops found and cleared 12 booby-trapped houses and 11 car bombs, found six weapons caches, and detained nine suspected al Qaeda operatives.

On Jan. 20, U.S. soldiers liberated two local Iraqis who had been kidnapped and tortured for 11 days. Ongoing operations in the area include clearing roadside bombs, repair of the highway and the standing up of concerned local citizens' groups.

"This is another example of the Iraqi army increasing their capacity and taking the lead in making their country safer," Dougherty said.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)