By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 22, 2010 - With U.S. forces entering the second week of a 12- to 18-month campaign in Afghanistan, the general in charge of U.S. forces in the region acknowledged yesterday that the way ahead will be tough. "I have repeatedly said that these types of efforts are hard, and they're hard all the time," Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Likening operations in Afghanistan to the surge in Iraq, the general pointed out that when U.S. forces go on the offensive to take away Taliban safe havens, they will see definite resistance.
Petraeus said the past year has been spent putting things in place for a "comprehensive civil military campaign," putting in the best leaders, helping to develop concepts, giving counterinsurgency guidance and starting to filter an additional 30,000 forces into the country.
"So the inputs we think now are about right, and now we're starting to see the first of the output, and the Marja operation is the initial salvo, the initial operation in that overall campaign," he said.
Early results have included taking down high-value targets, such as Taliban shadow governors, Petraeus said.
"We are there for a very, very important reason and we can't forget that," Petraeus emphasized. "We are in Afghanistan to ensure that it cannot once again be a sanctuary for the kind of attacks that were carried out on 9/11, which were planned initially in Kandahar, first training done in eastern Afghanistan before the attackers moved to Hamburg and then on to U.S. flight schools."
When asked if al-Qaida still poses a threat to the United States, Petraeus pointed out that the terrorist organization is a "flexible, adaptable" enemy whose threat, although diminished within the 20 countries making up the Central Command area, is one that requires constant vigilance.
"It is a network, and it takes a network to keep the pressure on a network, and that is, indeed, what we are endeavoring to do," Petraeus said.
Although he wouldn't get into the details on the intelligence operations surrounding the recent capture of Afghanistan's No. 2 Taliban commander, Abdul Baradar, Petraeus said Pakistan leaders have done "very impressive" work over the past several months leading up to this event.
"They saw this as the most pressing existential threat to their country, and they supported the Pakistan army and frontier corps as it went into Swat in the Malikan division of the northwest frontier province, and then expanded this operation in to the federally administered tribal areas," Petraeus said. "They know they can't just clear and leave. They have to clear, hold, build and, over time, transition to the local security forces. That's indeed, what they are endeavoring to do. They are carrying out this fight."
On the topic of potentially revising the law that prohibits homosexuals from serving openly in the military, Petraeus said he's sure there's a very sound and good process at work on that issue.
During Feb. 2 testimony before the Senate, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced the creation of a review to be headed by Army Gen. Carter F. Ham and the Defense Department's general counsel, Jeh C. Johnson.
"It will provide a rigorous analysis of the views of the force on the possible change," Petraeus said. "It will suggest the policies that could be used to implement a change, if it does come to that, so that it could be as uneventful as it was, say, in the U.K. or the Israeli militaries or, indeed, in our own CIA and FBI."
The general said that he'll be ready to provide his input on the topic when he testifies before Congress with other combatant commanders in a few weeks.
"I think that it's very important that these issues be handled and discussed and addressed by this review that will be so important in forming decisions as we move forward," Petraeus said. "I think it is hugely important that we have the answers from the questions that they'll be asking in a very methodical way something we've not done before because of the emotion and the sensitivity of this issue."
Monday, February 22, 2010
Forces in Afghanistan Kill, Detain Militants
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 22, 2010 - Combined Afghan and international forces in Afghanistan killed or detained militants and seized enemy weapons in recent operations, military officials reported. In Logar province yesterday, a combined force detained a militant while pursuing a Taliban facilitator.
In operations Feb. 20:
-- During the search of a compound in Nangarhar province, a combined force captured a Taliban facilitator associated with several rocket attacks on Afghan and coalition forces. When confronted, he identified himself. Several weapons, including automatic rifles and ammunition, and a quantity of drugs were found.
-- A combined force detained several suspected militants while pursuing a facilitator in eastern Kandahar city.
-- A combined force killed several militants while pursuing a Taliban commander in Kandahar province. The force targeted a pair of vehicles after reports of militant activity. Militants in the vehicle attempted to fire at the combined force. The force returned fire, killing them. A search of the vehicles revealed assault rifles and pistols.
-- A patrol detained several suspected insurgents and discovered a weapons cache in Helmand province. The cache consisted of four hand grenades, two assault rifles, six magazines of ammunition, one carbine rifle, 300 large-caliber machine-gun rounds and bomb components. The weapons were buried in what is believed to be an insurgent staging area. The suspects all tested positive for explosive residue and are being held for questioning by Afghan forces.
-- A patrol detained a suspected insurgent after seeing him digging in a ditch in Uruzgan province. After investigating, the force discovered five mortar rounds and a rocket where the man was digging.
-- A combined force detained a man after the search of a compound in Nuristan province revealed weapons and Afghan military uniforms. The weapons consisted of a 107 mm rocket, three hand grenades, assorted explosive components and 100 small-arms rounds.
-- A force searched a vehicle and compound in Helmand province after intelligence information indicated militant activity. Several weapons were seen in the vehicle as the force approached. One of the occupants pointed a weapon at the force. The force engaged, killing several militants. A search of the car revealed multiple assault rifles, a machine gun and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. A nearby compound also was searched, resulting in the discovery of several more rocket-propelled grenade rounds, grenades, chest racks and a handheld radio of a type often used by insurgents for communications. Several suspected militants in the compound were also detained.
-- In another Helmand operation, a security force searched a compound after intelligence information indicated militant activity. The force detained several suspected insurgents during the search.
-- In Kandahar province, a force searched a compound after reports of militant activity. During the search, the force captured a Taliban facilitator responsible for weapons and ammunition buys and arranging suicide-bombing attacks. A few other insurgents also were detained. The force recovered multiple weapons, including two grenades and a large amount of U.S. dollars.
In operations Feb. 19:
-- Afghan police discovered 440 pounds of explosive material in Kandahar province and discovered and defused four homemade bombs in Uruzgan province.
-- Afghan police attacked a group of insurgents who attempted to place a roadside mine in Kandahar province. One insurgent was killed, and two were arrested. A rifle and a homemade bomb were found on them.
-- Combined forces searched a compound in Paktika province and found a cache of ammunition including five machine guns, a mortar round, a rocket-propelled grenade, 50 boxes of machine-gun rounds, 17 homemade bombs and 15 rocket rounds.
-- Afghan police confiscated 255,000 afghanis in Afghan currency, five mobile phones, 10 rocket rounds, five magazines, four rifles and nine military uniforms in Takhar province.
-- A combined force captured two Taliban insurgents in Helmand province. One of the captured men is suspected of being a Taliban commander involved with the facilitation of explosive components and the planning of Taliban attacks.
(Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news releases.)
Feb. 22, 2010 - Combined Afghan and international forces in Afghanistan killed or detained militants and seized enemy weapons in recent operations, military officials reported. In Logar province yesterday, a combined force detained a militant while pursuing a Taliban facilitator.
In operations Feb. 20:
-- During the search of a compound in Nangarhar province, a combined force captured a Taliban facilitator associated with several rocket attacks on Afghan and coalition forces. When confronted, he identified himself. Several weapons, including automatic rifles and ammunition, and a quantity of drugs were found.
-- A combined force detained several suspected militants while pursuing a facilitator in eastern Kandahar city.
-- A combined force killed several militants while pursuing a Taliban commander in Kandahar province. The force targeted a pair of vehicles after reports of militant activity. Militants in the vehicle attempted to fire at the combined force. The force returned fire, killing them. A search of the vehicles revealed assault rifles and pistols.
-- A patrol detained several suspected insurgents and discovered a weapons cache in Helmand province. The cache consisted of four hand grenades, two assault rifles, six magazines of ammunition, one carbine rifle, 300 large-caliber machine-gun rounds and bomb components. The weapons were buried in what is believed to be an insurgent staging area. The suspects all tested positive for explosive residue and are being held for questioning by Afghan forces.
-- A patrol detained a suspected insurgent after seeing him digging in a ditch in Uruzgan province. After investigating, the force discovered five mortar rounds and a rocket where the man was digging.
-- A combined force detained a man after the search of a compound in Nuristan province revealed weapons and Afghan military uniforms. The weapons consisted of a 107 mm rocket, three hand grenades, assorted explosive components and 100 small-arms rounds.
-- A force searched a vehicle and compound in Helmand province after intelligence information indicated militant activity. Several weapons were seen in the vehicle as the force approached. One of the occupants pointed a weapon at the force. The force engaged, killing several militants. A search of the car revealed multiple assault rifles, a machine gun and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. A nearby compound also was searched, resulting in the discovery of several more rocket-propelled grenade rounds, grenades, chest racks and a handheld radio of a type often used by insurgents for communications. Several suspected militants in the compound were also detained.
-- In another Helmand operation, a security force searched a compound after intelligence information indicated militant activity. The force detained several suspected insurgents during the search.
-- In Kandahar province, a force searched a compound after reports of militant activity. During the search, the force captured a Taliban facilitator responsible for weapons and ammunition buys and arranging suicide-bombing attacks. A few other insurgents also were detained. The force recovered multiple weapons, including two grenades and a large amount of U.S. dollars.
In operations Feb. 19:
-- Afghan police discovered 440 pounds of explosive material in Kandahar province and discovered and defused four homemade bombs in Uruzgan province.
-- Afghan police attacked a group of insurgents who attempted to place a roadside mine in Kandahar province. One insurgent was killed, and two were arrested. A rifle and a homemade bomb were found on them.
-- Combined forces searched a compound in Paktika province and found a cache of ammunition including five machine guns, a mortar round, a rocket-propelled grenade, 50 boxes of machine-gun rounds, 17 homemade bombs and 15 rocket rounds.
-- Afghan police confiscated 255,000 afghanis in Afghan currency, five mobile phones, 10 rocket rounds, five magazines, four rifles and nine military uniforms in Takhar province.
-- A combined force captured two Taliban insurgents in Helmand province. One of the captured men is suspected of being a Taliban commander involved with the facilitation of explosive components and the planning of Taliban attacks.
(Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news releases.)
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Joshua H. Birchfield, 24, of Westville, Ind., died Feb. 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at 760-725-8766.
Lance Cpl. Joshua H. Birchfield, 24, of Westville, Ind., died Feb. 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at 760-725-8766.
Iraq Can Help Stabilize the Middle East
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 22, 2010 - Iraq presents a solid opportunity to help in stabilizing the Middle East, the commander of forces in that country said here today. "We have an opportunity that we might never have again," Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said during a Pentagon news conference. "We have the opportunity – potentially – to have a moderate democratic government in the Middle East."
The general said he's worried that once U.S. servicemembers leave Iraq at the end of 2011, Americans will forget about Iraq. The United States must remain engaged with the Iraqi government as an equal, the general said.
"That's going to take commitment beyond military commitment," Odierno said, adding that the U.S. government needs to engage with Iraq economically, diplomatically and governmentally and continue a certain amount of security cooperation.
The Iraqi national election slated on March 7 is a watershed for the country, Odierno said. Iraqi security forces are in the lead in providing election security, and American forces are standing by to provide support if called upon, he noted.
The general acknowledged some worries. A large Sunni political party has threatened to boycott the election. Al-Qaida may launch attacks, and political violence leading up to the elections is possible. But, so far it is going well, the general said, knocking on the wood of the lectern. "But we still have two more weeks," he added.
A total of 6,242 candidates are seeking 325 seats up for election. "We still have a broad-based group there running for elections inside of Iraq," Odierno said.
About 96,000 American servicemembers are in Iraq now, Odierno said, a number that will decrease to 50,000 by September. The general said he can speed up or slow down that withdrawal as conditions on the ground dictate.
"I have contingency plans, and I've ... briefed the chain of command this week that we could execute [the plans] if we run into problems, if it goes the way we think, or if it just is a little bit different than the way we think," he said. "And we're prepared to execute those."
Odierno said he is concerned about Iran and Iranian influence in Iraq. "What we're trying to do is to make sure the Iraqis get to choose who leads Iraq, and that we don't have such external interference that the Iraqis don't get the chance to choose who their leadership is and who they want to bring them into the future," he said.
Iran continues to support surrogates inside Iraq who continue to attack U.S. and Iraqi security forces. "And they continue to have significant diplomatic activity inside of Iraq on many different levels," the general said.
American servicemembers in Iraq have good attitudes about their missions, Odierno told reporters.
"What's really heartening – especially from the noncommissioned officers and the officers, who most are on their second, third, fourth, fifth rotation – is they are seeing the progress," he said.
The general noted he visits battalions and brigades throughout Iraq, and added that he asks the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines what they think and what they are seeing.
"And to a man, they all say that it's really incredible to them how far they've come from just two years ago, and what they're seeing on the ground, the fact they're seeing growth in these Iraqi towns; the fact they're seeing some development, the advancements they've seen in the Iraqi security forces and their ability to do operations," he said.
The troops are heartened by their observations, and they see the elections as another important milestone, the general said.
"I think morale is pretty good in Iraq," he added. "They feel good about it."
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 22, 2010 - Iraq presents a solid opportunity to help in stabilizing the Middle East, the commander of forces in that country said here today. "We have an opportunity that we might never have again," Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said during a Pentagon news conference. "We have the opportunity – potentially – to have a moderate democratic government in the Middle East."
The general said he's worried that once U.S. servicemembers leave Iraq at the end of 2011, Americans will forget about Iraq. The United States must remain engaged with the Iraqi government as an equal, the general said.
"That's going to take commitment beyond military commitment," Odierno said, adding that the U.S. government needs to engage with Iraq economically, diplomatically and governmentally and continue a certain amount of security cooperation.
The Iraqi national election slated on March 7 is a watershed for the country, Odierno said. Iraqi security forces are in the lead in providing election security, and American forces are standing by to provide support if called upon, he noted.
The general acknowledged some worries. A large Sunni political party has threatened to boycott the election. Al-Qaida may launch attacks, and political violence leading up to the elections is possible. But, so far it is going well, the general said, knocking on the wood of the lectern. "But we still have two more weeks," he added.
A total of 6,242 candidates are seeking 325 seats up for election. "We still have a broad-based group there running for elections inside of Iraq," Odierno said.
About 96,000 American servicemembers are in Iraq now, Odierno said, a number that will decrease to 50,000 by September. The general said he can speed up or slow down that withdrawal as conditions on the ground dictate.
"I have contingency plans, and I've ... briefed the chain of command this week that we could execute [the plans] if we run into problems, if it goes the way we think, or if it just is a little bit different than the way we think," he said. "And we're prepared to execute those."
Odierno said he is concerned about Iran and Iranian influence in Iraq. "What we're trying to do is to make sure the Iraqis get to choose who leads Iraq, and that we don't have such external interference that the Iraqis don't get the chance to choose who their leadership is and who they want to bring them into the future," he said.
Iran continues to support surrogates inside Iraq who continue to attack U.S. and Iraqi security forces. "And they continue to have significant diplomatic activity inside of Iraq on many different levels," the general said.
American servicemembers in Iraq have good attitudes about their missions, Odierno told reporters.
"What's really heartening – especially from the noncommissioned officers and the officers, who most are on their second, third, fourth, fifth rotation – is they are seeing the progress," he said.
The general noted he visits battalions and brigades throughout Iraq, and added that he asks the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines what they think and what they are seeing.
"And to a man, they all say that it's really incredible to them how far they've come from just two years ago, and what they're seeing on the ground, the fact they're seeing growth in these Iraqi towns; the fact they're seeing some development, the advancements they've seen in the Iraqi security forces and their ability to do operations," he said.
The troops are heartened by their observations, and they see the elections as another important milestone, the general said.
"I think morale is pretty good in Iraq," he added. "They feel good about it."
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Cpl. Gregory S. Stultz, 22, of Brazil, Ind., died Feb. 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the III Marine Expeditionary Force/Marine Corps Bases Japan public affairs office at 011-81-611-745-0790 or e-mail them at okinawapao@usmc.mil.
Cpl. Gregory S. Stultz, 22, of Brazil, Ind., died Feb. 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the III Marine Expeditionary Force/Marine Corps Bases Japan public affairs office at 011-81-611-745-0790 or e-mail them at okinawapao@usmc.mil.
Najibullah Zazi Pleads Guilty
Najibullah Zazi Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Use Explosives Against Persons or Property in U.S., Conspiracy to Murder Abroad, and Providing Material Support to al Qaeda
February 22, 2010 - WASHINGTON—The Justice Department announced that Najibullah Zazi pleaded guilty today in the Eastern District of New York to a three-count superseding information charging him with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction (explosive bombs) against persons or property in the United States, conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, and providing material support to al Qaeda. Among other things, Zazi admitted that he brought TATP [Triacetone Triperoxide] explosives to New York on Sept. 10, 2009, as part of plan to attack the New York subway system.
Zazi, 25, a resident of Aurora, Colo., and legal permanent resident of the United States from Afghanistan, entered his guilty plea today before Chief U.S. District Judge Raymond J. Dearie. Zazi faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison for the first two counts of the superseding information and an additional 15 years in prison for the third count of the superseding information.
FBI agents in Colorado first arrested Zazi on Sept. 19, 2009, on a criminal complaint charging him with knowingly and willfully making false statements to the FBI in a matter involving international and domestic terrorism. On Sept. 23, 2009, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of New York returned a one-count indictment alleging that Zazi knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to use one or more weapons of mass destruction, specifically explosive bombs and other similar explosive devices, against persons or property within the United States.
As Zazi admitted during today’s guilty plea allocution and as reflected in previous government filings, he and others agreed to travel to Afghanistan to join the Taliban and fight against United States and allied forces. In furtherance of their plans, they flew from Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., to Peshawar, Pakistan at the end of August 2008. Although Zazi and others initially intended to fight on behalf of the Taliban, they were recruited by al-Qaeda shortly after arriving in Peshawar. Al Qaeda personnel transported Zazi and others to the Waziristan region of Pakistan and trained them on several different kinds of weapons. During the training, al Qaeda leaders asked Zazi and others to return to the United States and conduct suicide operations. They agreed.
Zazi later received additional training from al Qaeda on constructing the explosives for the planned attacks in the United States. Zazi had discussions with al Qaeda leaders about target locations, including subway trains in New York City. Zazi took detailed notes during the training, and later e-mailed a summary of the notes to himself so that he could access them when he returned to the United States. Zazi also provided money and computers to al Qaeda before he left Pakistan.
Zazi returned to the United States in January 2009 and moved to Denver. Beginning in June 2009, he began reviewing the bomb-making notes from his training and conducting research on where to buy the ingredients for the explosives. Zazi then traveled to New York and met with others to discuss the plan, including the timing of the attack and where to make the explosives.
Zazi returned to Denver and used the bomb-making notes to construct the explosives for the detonator components of the bombs. As set forth in the government’s detention memorandum filed earlier in the case, in July and August 2009, Zazi purchased large quantities of components necessary to produce TATP and twice checked into a hotel room near Denver, where bomb making residue was later found.
On Sept. 8, 2009, Zazi rented a car and drove from Denver to New York, taking with him the explosives and other materials necessary to build the bombs. Zazi arrived in New York City on Thursday, Sept.10, 2009. Zazi and others intended to obtain and assemble the remaining components of the bombs over the weekend and conduct the attack on Manhattan subway lines on Sept. 14, Sept. 15, or Sept. 16, 2009. However, shortly after arriving in New York, Zazi realized that law enforcement was investigating his activities. Zazi and others discarded the explosives and other bomb-making materials, and Zazi traveled back to Denver. He was arrested on Sept. 19, 2009.
“This was one of the most serious terrorist threats to our nation since September 11, 2001, and were it not for the combined efforts of the law enforcement and intelligence communities, it could have been devastating,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “This attempted attack on our homeland was real, it was in motion, and it would have been deadly. We were able to thwart this plot because of careful analysis by our intelligence agents and prompt actions by law enforcement. They deserve our thanks and praise.”
“Today’s plea is an important development in this complex and ongoing criminal investigation and intelligence operation that in many ways illustrates the evolving nature of the terrorist threat today,” said FBI Deputy Director John S. Pistole. “The plea is the result of the dedication and hard work by agents and officers assigned to Joint Terrorism Task Forces in both New York and Colorado working closely with federal prosecutors.”
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The investigation is being conducted by the New York and Denver FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces, which combined have investigators from more than fifty federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
February 22, 2010 - WASHINGTON—The Justice Department announced that Najibullah Zazi pleaded guilty today in the Eastern District of New York to a three-count superseding information charging him with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction (explosive bombs) against persons or property in the United States, conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, and providing material support to al Qaeda. Among other things, Zazi admitted that he brought TATP [Triacetone Triperoxide] explosives to New York on Sept. 10, 2009, as part of plan to attack the New York subway system.
Zazi, 25, a resident of Aurora, Colo., and legal permanent resident of the United States from Afghanistan, entered his guilty plea today before Chief U.S. District Judge Raymond J. Dearie. Zazi faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison for the first two counts of the superseding information and an additional 15 years in prison for the third count of the superseding information.
FBI agents in Colorado first arrested Zazi on Sept. 19, 2009, on a criminal complaint charging him with knowingly and willfully making false statements to the FBI in a matter involving international and domestic terrorism. On Sept. 23, 2009, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of New York returned a one-count indictment alleging that Zazi knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to use one or more weapons of mass destruction, specifically explosive bombs and other similar explosive devices, against persons or property within the United States.
As Zazi admitted during today’s guilty plea allocution and as reflected in previous government filings, he and others agreed to travel to Afghanistan to join the Taliban and fight against United States and allied forces. In furtherance of their plans, they flew from Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., to Peshawar, Pakistan at the end of August 2008. Although Zazi and others initially intended to fight on behalf of the Taliban, they were recruited by al-Qaeda shortly after arriving in Peshawar. Al Qaeda personnel transported Zazi and others to the Waziristan region of Pakistan and trained them on several different kinds of weapons. During the training, al Qaeda leaders asked Zazi and others to return to the United States and conduct suicide operations. They agreed.
Zazi later received additional training from al Qaeda on constructing the explosives for the planned attacks in the United States. Zazi had discussions with al Qaeda leaders about target locations, including subway trains in New York City. Zazi took detailed notes during the training, and later e-mailed a summary of the notes to himself so that he could access them when he returned to the United States. Zazi also provided money and computers to al Qaeda before he left Pakistan.
Zazi returned to the United States in January 2009 and moved to Denver. Beginning in June 2009, he began reviewing the bomb-making notes from his training and conducting research on where to buy the ingredients for the explosives. Zazi then traveled to New York and met with others to discuss the plan, including the timing of the attack and where to make the explosives.
Zazi returned to Denver and used the bomb-making notes to construct the explosives for the detonator components of the bombs. As set forth in the government’s detention memorandum filed earlier in the case, in July and August 2009, Zazi purchased large quantities of components necessary to produce TATP and twice checked into a hotel room near Denver, where bomb making residue was later found.
On Sept. 8, 2009, Zazi rented a car and drove from Denver to New York, taking with him the explosives and other materials necessary to build the bombs. Zazi arrived in New York City on Thursday, Sept.10, 2009. Zazi and others intended to obtain and assemble the remaining components of the bombs over the weekend and conduct the attack on Manhattan subway lines on Sept. 14, Sept. 15, or Sept. 16, 2009. However, shortly after arriving in New York, Zazi realized that law enforcement was investigating his activities. Zazi and others discarded the explosives and other bomb-making materials, and Zazi traveled back to Denver. He was arrested on Sept. 19, 2009.
“This was one of the most serious terrorist threats to our nation since September 11, 2001, and were it not for the combined efforts of the law enforcement and intelligence communities, it could have been devastating,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “This attempted attack on our homeland was real, it was in motion, and it would have been deadly. We were able to thwart this plot because of careful analysis by our intelligence agents and prompt actions by law enforcement. They deserve our thanks and praise.”
“Today’s plea is an important development in this complex and ongoing criminal investigation and intelligence operation that in many ways illustrates the evolving nature of the terrorist threat today,” said FBI Deputy Director John S. Pistole. “The plea is the result of the dedication and hard work by agents and officers assigned to Joint Terrorism Task Forces in both New York and Colorado working closely with federal prosecutors.”
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The investigation is being conducted by the New York and Denver FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces, which combined have investigators from more than fifty federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Gates, Mullen Regret Civilian Casualties
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 22, 2010 - Expressing deep regret over civilian casualties resulting from a NATO air strike yesterday, Pentagon civilian and military leaders said today they support the strategy that puts as much emphasis on protecting the Afghan population as capturing or killing insurgents.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pointed to challenges the military is facing in Marja, Afghanistan, as an indication of the challenges U.S. and coalition forces face as they help Afghan security forces reverse enemy momentum there.
Mullen reported steady progress in Marja, while conceding that it's developing "a bit slower than anticipated." Still, the chairman said, he's encouraged by the work under way, the focus on protecting the population, and by the bravery being demonstrated by the Afghan people, their security forces and the coalition troops. "By all accounts, the Taliban's resistance has been at best, disjointed," he said.
"But we have experienced difficulties," the chairman acknowledged. "In some places, the enemy fights harder than expected."
And, enemy-emplaced roadside bombs "although crude, are still deadly," Mullen pointed out.
The admiral declined to share details about yesterday's air strike incident while the investigation continues, but he offered condolences to the families of those killed.
"Yesterday's terrible loss of innocent civilians reminds us of just how fragile any move we make can ultimately be," Mullen said.
Gates noted that Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, has made protecting the civilian population a keystone of his strategy. "General McChrystal is more on top of the importance of avoiding civilian casualties, and the strategic consequences of civilian casualties, than anybody," he said.
Mullen said the U.S. military's emphasis on protecting Afghanistan's civilians has been reinforced throughout the chain of command. "It is the focus of the military leadership right down to the unit level," he said. But Mullen also cited the challenges these troops face in preventing civilian casualties in light of the "very difficult environment" they are working under, and the split-second decisions they must make in combat.
"The thing to remember is that we're at war," echoed Gates. "General McChrystal is doing everything humanly possible to avoid civilian casualties. But it is also a fact that the Taliban mingle with civilians, [and] they use them for cover."
This, the secretary said, "obviously complicates any decision process by a commander on the ground in knowing whether he's dealing with the Taliban or innocent civilians, or a combination of the two."
Asked if McChrystal's restrictions on the use of air power have gone too far in tying ground troops' hands as they fight the enemy, Gates deferred to his ground commander.
"My thought is that I'm not going to try and second-guess Stan McChrystal from 9,000 miles away," Gates said. "He's the commander. I have confidence in his judgment. I'll leave it to him to make those decisions about the right balance. Just as he is concerned about civilian casualties, he is also deeply concerned about the potential for American and coalition casualties."
Mullen reminded reporters of what he called "an essential truth" regarding warfare.
"War is bloody and uneven. It is messy and ugly and incredibly wasteful," he said. "But that doesn't mean it is not worth the cost. We must steel ourselves, no matter how successful we are on a given day, for harder days yet to come."
The chairman warned against overconfidence about progress being made in Marja, or in Afghanistan overall. One event, he said, can't be viewed as a trend.
"If we have learned nothing else these past eight years, it is that failure makes itself plainly clear, but success takes longer to see," Mullen said. "We will see success in Marja, but we must be patient. ... The long view here is the best view."
It's still too soon, Mullen said, to put a black-or-white label on operations in Afghanistan overall by saying that the coalition is winning or losing. "I think we are headed in the right direction, we have the right leadership, the right strategy, the right resources," he said. "And I think we can succeed."
Gates shared McChrystal's sentiment that the situation in Afghanistan has gone from "serious and deteriorating" to "serious but no longer deteriorating." He also expressed optimism about Pakistan's role in the recent captures of several high-profile insurgent leaders, including Abdul Ghani Baradar.
"What we are seeing is the importance of operations on both sides of the border, and a manifestation of real progress, on the Pakistani side, of dealing with the threats that I've talked about," Gates said.
Gates noted that the Pakistani Taliban, Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida all work together and share in each other's successes.
"So I think that the recent events have been another positive indication of the Pakistanis' commitment to stabilizing this border area," he said.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 22, 2010 - Expressing deep regret over civilian casualties resulting from a NATO air strike yesterday, Pentagon civilian and military leaders said today they support the strategy that puts as much emphasis on protecting the Afghan population as capturing or killing insurgents.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pointed to challenges the military is facing in Marja, Afghanistan, as an indication of the challenges U.S. and coalition forces face as they help Afghan security forces reverse enemy momentum there.
Mullen reported steady progress in Marja, while conceding that it's developing "a bit slower than anticipated." Still, the chairman said, he's encouraged by the work under way, the focus on protecting the population, and by the bravery being demonstrated by the Afghan people, their security forces and the coalition troops. "By all accounts, the Taliban's resistance has been at best, disjointed," he said.
"But we have experienced difficulties," the chairman acknowledged. "In some places, the enemy fights harder than expected."
And, enemy-emplaced roadside bombs "although crude, are still deadly," Mullen pointed out.
The admiral declined to share details about yesterday's air strike incident while the investigation continues, but he offered condolences to the families of those killed.
"Yesterday's terrible loss of innocent civilians reminds us of just how fragile any move we make can ultimately be," Mullen said.
Gates noted that Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, has made protecting the civilian population a keystone of his strategy. "General McChrystal is more on top of the importance of avoiding civilian casualties, and the strategic consequences of civilian casualties, than anybody," he said.
Mullen said the U.S. military's emphasis on protecting Afghanistan's civilians has been reinforced throughout the chain of command. "It is the focus of the military leadership right down to the unit level," he said. But Mullen also cited the challenges these troops face in preventing civilian casualties in light of the "very difficult environment" they are working under, and the split-second decisions they must make in combat.
"The thing to remember is that we're at war," echoed Gates. "General McChrystal is doing everything humanly possible to avoid civilian casualties. But it is also a fact that the Taliban mingle with civilians, [and] they use them for cover."
This, the secretary said, "obviously complicates any decision process by a commander on the ground in knowing whether he's dealing with the Taliban or innocent civilians, or a combination of the two."
Asked if McChrystal's restrictions on the use of air power have gone too far in tying ground troops' hands as they fight the enemy, Gates deferred to his ground commander.
"My thought is that I'm not going to try and second-guess Stan McChrystal from 9,000 miles away," Gates said. "He's the commander. I have confidence in his judgment. I'll leave it to him to make those decisions about the right balance. Just as he is concerned about civilian casualties, he is also deeply concerned about the potential for American and coalition casualties."
Mullen reminded reporters of what he called "an essential truth" regarding warfare.
"War is bloody and uneven. It is messy and ugly and incredibly wasteful," he said. "But that doesn't mean it is not worth the cost. We must steel ourselves, no matter how successful we are on a given day, for harder days yet to come."
The chairman warned against overconfidence about progress being made in Marja, or in Afghanistan overall. One event, he said, can't be viewed as a trend.
"If we have learned nothing else these past eight years, it is that failure makes itself plainly clear, but success takes longer to see," Mullen said. "We will see success in Marja, but we must be patient. ... The long view here is the best view."
It's still too soon, Mullen said, to put a black-or-white label on operations in Afghanistan overall by saying that the coalition is winning or losing. "I think we are headed in the right direction, we have the right leadership, the right strategy, the right resources," he said. "And I think we can succeed."
Gates shared McChrystal's sentiment that the situation in Afghanistan has gone from "serious and deteriorating" to "serious but no longer deteriorating." He also expressed optimism about Pakistan's role in the recent captures of several high-profile insurgent leaders, including Abdul Ghani Baradar.
"What we are seeing is the importance of operations on both sides of the border, and a manifestation of real progress, on the Pakistani side, of dealing with the threats that I've talked about," Gates said.
Gates noted that the Pakistani Taliban, Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida all work together and share in each other's successes.
"So I think that the recent events have been another positive indication of the Pakistanis' commitment to stabilizing this border area," he said.
Press Conference on Najibullah Zazi Investigation
February 22, 2010 - Good afternoon. Today’s plea is a significant milestone in this ongoing and complex case. As Attorney General Holder just outlined, Mr. Zazi presented a substantial threat to the security of the United States. This case has given us all greater insight into the evolving nature of the terrorist threat we face today.
It has both domestic and international aspects. It shows how individuals here in the U.S. with the intent to do us harm can acquire the means to do so and then take steps to carry out an attack.
Our success to date in unraveling this plot is the result of the dedication and commitment of the law enforcement and intelligence communities, particularly the Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Denver and New York City.
On behalf of the FBI, I want to especially thank the dedicated agents, analysts, and officers serving on those task forces, as well as a number of our legal attachés overseas, the FBI Laboratory, and the Bureau’s computer forensic teams, among others. Each worked diligently and around the clock to obtain and share information and carefully piece together each element of the case.
I’d also like to thank the National Security Agency and the CIA for their outstanding contributions to this inter-agency effort. And the Department of Homeland Security, working through CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) and ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), provided critical assistance throughout the investigation.
Finally, I want to thank the team of talented prosecutors serving in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in New York and Colorado and the attorneys in DOJ (Department of Justice) in the Counterterrorism section and in the Office of Intelligence for their exceptional and continued work on this case.
While today’s plea marks a significant success, it reminds us that our work is not finished. This case is ongoing, and we will continue to work side by side with our partners to see that justice is done and our nation remains safe.
It has both domestic and international aspects. It shows how individuals here in the U.S. with the intent to do us harm can acquire the means to do so and then take steps to carry out an attack.
Our success to date in unraveling this plot is the result of the dedication and commitment of the law enforcement and intelligence communities, particularly the Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Denver and New York City.
On behalf of the FBI, I want to especially thank the dedicated agents, analysts, and officers serving on those task forces, as well as a number of our legal attachés overseas, the FBI Laboratory, and the Bureau’s computer forensic teams, among others. Each worked diligently and around the clock to obtain and share information and carefully piece together each element of the case.
I’d also like to thank the National Security Agency and the CIA for their outstanding contributions to this inter-agency effort. And the Department of Homeland Security, working through CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) and ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), provided critical assistance throughout the investigation.
Finally, I want to thank the team of talented prosecutors serving in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in New York and Colorado and the attorneys in DOJ (Department of Justice) in the Counterterrorism section and in the Office of Intelligence for their exceptional and continued work on this case.
While today’s plea marks a significant success, it reminds us that our work is not finished. This case is ongoing, and we will continue to work side by side with our partners to see that justice is done and our nation remains safe.
Helmand Start of Broader Offensive, Officials Say
By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 22, 2010 - The coalition's operations in Helmand province are the first stage of a broader offensive to change the course of the fight in Afghanistan, Defense Department leaders told the Senate Armed Services Committee today. Operation Moshtarak, as the offensive launched Feb. 13 is known, is "going well so far," Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy, said in a briefing to the committee. "This really is the first large-scale effort to change how we're doing business."
Flournoy and Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., director of operations for the Joint Staff, said Moshtarak is a joint operation with Afghan security forces to secure and hold control of the Helmand River Valley, to stamp out the Taliban insurgency and to allow the legitimate government, on the national and local level, to take hold.
Asked by senators why the campaign began in Helmand instead of Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, Paxton replied that Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, concluded in his assessment in September that Helmand was at the heart of the coalition's four-point mission to protect the Afghan people, enable Afghan security forces, neutralize the insurgency and allow for governance.
"General McChrystal's plan was for Kandahar to be a place we would go, but central Helmand is where the insurgency had the most-safe haven," Paxton said. "I think you'll see Kandahar will closely follow, but central Helmand had to come first."
In Helmand, Flournoy said, "are the seeds for transforming a very tough environment for developing Afghanistan more broadly." The Afghan government, she said, has made improvements in increasing pay and benefits to its forces, and it is improving much-needed infrastructure.
Flournoy noted that even the Soviets during their 10-year occupation avoided the southern region known as "the heart of darkness." Taliban in the area have proven to be "cunning, tenacious and adaptable," she said.
Still, Flournoy added, she is cautiously optimistic. "There will be challenges," she said, "but we will continue to adjust and make progress."
The coalition's major challenges include the recruitment, training and retention of Afghan troops, she said.
"Inevitably, we will face some setbacks even as we make progress," the undersecretary said. "And, we need to be prepared for the possibility that things will get harder before better."
The Helmand operation is the first fully joint offensive campaign with the Afghans, who are integrated at all levels and include civilian government workers as well as security forces, Paxton said. It includes a thousand Afghan national police, and another thousand are in training to join the effort, he said, adding that Afghans have more forces on the ground in the offensive than the coalition.
And the Afghan forces are willing to engage the enemy, Paxton said. "All indications are that they are every bit as engaged as U.S. and coalition forces," he said, although he acknowledged they are not as well trained. Still, he added, it's important to keep the Afghan national security forces forward in the fight "to convince local people that this is not just the coalition."
Citing "extensive interaction" with local tribal leaders in Helmand, Paxton said more than 60 percent of uncovered roadside bombs have been found due to reports from residents.
"The population is broadly on our side," he said, "and it will continue to be so long as we prove we can provide them long-term security."
Paxton said "isolated incidents of regrettable human casualties" have taken place, but he added that the Taliban sometimes use civilians as shields.
"In spite of recent successes, we know this is going to be a hard fight," Paxton said. "But we're committed to the process and the work that lies ahead."
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 22, 2010 - The coalition's operations in Helmand province are the first stage of a broader offensive to change the course of the fight in Afghanistan, Defense Department leaders told the Senate Armed Services Committee today. Operation Moshtarak, as the offensive launched Feb. 13 is known, is "going well so far," Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy, said in a briefing to the committee. "This really is the first large-scale effort to change how we're doing business."
Flournoy and Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., director of operations for the Joint Staff, said Moshtarak is a joint operation with Afghan security forces to secure and hold control of the Helmand River Valley, to stamp out the Taliban insurgency and to allow the legitimate government, on the national and local level, to take hold.
Asked by senators why the campaign began in Helmand instead of Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, Paxton replied that Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, concluded in his assessment in September that Helmand was at the heart of the coalition's four-point mission to protect the Afghan people, enable Afghan security forces, neutralize the insurgency and allow for governance.
"General McChrystal's plan was for Kandahar to be a place we would go, but central Helmand is where the insurgency had the most-safe haven," Paxton said. "I think you'll see Kandahar will closely follow, but central Helmand had to come first."
In Helmand, Flournoy said, "are the seeds for transforming a very tough environment for developing Afghanistan more broadly." The Afghan government, she said, has made improvements in increasing pay and benefits to its forces, and it is improving much-needed infrastructure.
Flournoy noted that even the Soviets during their 10-year occupation avoided the southern region known as "the heart of darkness." Taliban in the area have proven to be "cunning, tenacious and adaptable," she said.
Still, Flournoy added, she is cautiously optimistic. "There will be challenges," she said, "but we will continue to adjust and make progress."
The coalition's major challenges include the recruitment, training and retention of Afghan troops, she said.
"Inevitably, we will face some setbacks even as we make progress," the undersecretary said. "And, we need to be prepared for the possibility that things will get harder before better."
The Helmand operation is the first fully joint offensive campaign with the Afghans, who are integrated at all levels and include civilian government workers as well as security forces, Paxton said. It includes a thousand Afghan national police, and another thousand are in training to join the effort, he said, adding that Afghans have more forces on the ground in the offensive than the coalition.
And the Afghan forces are willing to engage the enemy, Paxton said. "All indications are that they are every bit as engaged as U.S. and coalition forces," he said, although he acknowledged they are not as well trained. Still, he added, it's important to keep the Afghan national security forces forward in the fight "to convince local people that this is not just the coalition."
Citing "extensive interaction" with local tribal leaders in Helmand, Paxton said more than 60 percent of uncovered roadside bombs have been found due to reports from residents.
"The population is broadly on our side," he said, "and it will continue to be so long as we prove we can provide them long-term security."
Paxton said "isolated incidents of regrettable human casualties" have taken place, but he added that the Taliban sometimes use civilians as shields.
"In spite of recent successes, we know this is going to be a hard fight," Paxton said. "But we're committed to the process and the work that lies ahead."
Taliban Country – Strong Point Khyber
By U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathan Gallahan, ISAF Joint Command Public Affairs
February 22, 2010 - We’re in Taliban country. It took us eleven days, but we can now say we’re less than 150 yards from where the Taliban have heavy influence.I always assumed the closer you got to them, the more “war like” the environment would become. I imagined strong points like this to be under regular, heavy attack.
Without giving away any specifics, the Canadians live in a fort. It has huge walls and barbed wire and enough firepower to keep the Taliban at bay. They live and work with their Afghan National Army brothers and patrol with them daily.
Life is dangerous this close to the Taliban, they sneak around at night to plant IEDs and then the ANA and Canadians go looking for them. During the day, things seem to be relatively quiet. I asked a Canadian soldier who has lived here for the past five or six months and he said this place is 99 percent quiet and one percent excitement. They could go weeks without hearing a single gunshot. Granted, it is the winter months and it’s not “fighting season.” All the leaves have fallen off the nearby trees so the Taliban can’t get close to take accurate shots at the strong point. All of the soldiers expect the fighting to start up in the spring. The leaves act as war timers, fighting here grows along with them.
It is weird to sit here knowing the Taliban have heavy influence over the townspeople I see driving by and waving. The houses less than 150 yards for me are “controlled” by the Taliban. How can I sit on the roof, look over there and know that those poor people have to live with both a legitimate government and a shadow government operated by the Taliban?
The Taliban use fear to control the population. They stick letters to people’s doors in the middle of the night telling them to do this or that or we’ll kill you. They also provide basic governance to some people. If someone can’t get a conflict resolved with the Afghan government, they’ll go to the Taliban to resolve it.
I believe most Afghans just want to live a peaceful life. They just want to be left alone, raise their children and harvest their crops. If the Taliban tell them to be inside by 9 p.m., they do it because they don’t want their lives upset.
This is all happening just down the road from me. So why isn’t the coalition doing anything about it? They are, but it’s a matter of time. When you’re talking about so many different aspects of society, all having to be built up together, such as security, governance, education, development, road paving or even electricity and water, it simply takes a lot of time, money, resources and manpower. This is where the counter insurgency strategy comes in. You have to start somewhere and the dedication of resources goes to the areas with greatest impact. Large cities like Kandahar and Kabul are high on the list because so many people live and work there. Once these large areas are secured and developed has started, the Afghan Government works its way out to the smaller areas. Where I’m at now hasn’t been reached yet so although there’s troops here protecting and route clearing, it may be awhile before the coalition forces can clear the Taliban, hold the area and then start developing.
There’s not much the Taliban can do but harass and scare the Afghans, place IEDs and attack the strong point every now and then, while we sit right here. It’s just a matter of time before they’re pushed out of this area. Until that time comes, the Afghan National Army and the Canadians here will continue to build the trust, friendships and cooperation of the local people. These relationships will be important once the area is cleared of the Taliban.
Writing that sentence makes it almost sound as if you can walk down the street and point out the Taliban. In all my travels, I’ve never met anyone who can point out a Taliban. Even the people may not know who they are because all they get is some letter on their door saying “do this or we’ll kill you.”
It’s not an easy task and I don’t envy those who have to come and clear this area. But the time will come when the good guys will clear, hold and then develop this area.
For now, and for the past six years, the same group of Afghan National Army soldiers has been fighting the Taliban here. They often clear the roads and interact with the local population. I could tell a these ANA soldiers were different when I first arrived and had a chance to talk with the Canadian soldiers about them extensively.
These ANA soldiers know these roads and they know the people. Although some of their tactics may seem strange to foreigners, this is how experience has taught them to fight. To them, Afghanistan isn’t a six month deployment or a national debate about whether to stay or go – this is their life, they are fighting for their children futures. There is no going home, and there is no surrendering. They know what they want and their out here fighting for it.
As I sat down and ate dinner with the Canadian Soldiers, all three agreed they would trust these ANA soldiers with their life, and if allowed, would go on a patrol with them by themselves. A fourth soldier said “I would trust the ANA with my life, but not with my money … but I don’t trust my brother with my money or my friends with my sister either.”
This struck a chord with me because just the other day, I wrote I would only go on patrol with the ANA if other coalition forces were there to mentor them. These ANA are so professional and the Canadians had so much faith in them, I need to rethink that sentence.
Visiting Khyber was exactly what Ken and I hoped for. We’ve seen the small teams of Canadians living with and working with their Afghan partners. The Afghans proved to be exceptionally good at what they do, so much so the Canadians are learning from them. Tomorrow, we’re going to look for IEDs with all of them. It should be a fascinating experience. The ANA supposedly use their own methods to find IEDs, and while they may not be as rigged or precise as ISAF standards, they are Afghan standards and experience has been their greatest teacher.
February 22, 2010 - We’re in Taliban country. It took us eleven days, but we can now say we’re less than 150 yards from where the Taliban have heavy influence.I always assumed the closer you got to them, the more “war like” the environment would become. I imagined strong points like this to be under regular, heavy attack.
Without giving away any specifics, the Canadians live in a fort. It has huge walls and barbed wire and enough firepower to keep the Taliban at bay. They live and work with their Afghan National Army brothers and patrol with them daily.
Life is dangerous this close to the Taliban, they sneak around at night to plant IEDs and then the ANA and Canadians go looking for them. During the day, things seem to be relatively quiet. I asked a Canadian soldier who has lived here for the past five or six months and he said this place is 99 percent quiet and one percent excitement. They could go weeks without hearing a single gunshot. Granted, it is the winter months and it’s not “fighting season.” All the leaves have fallen off the nearby trees so the Taliban can’t get close to take accurate shots at the strong point. All of the soldiers expect the fighting to start up in the spring. The leaves act as war timers, fighting here grows along with them.
It is weird to sit here knowing the Taliban have heavy influence over the townspeople I see driving by and waving. The houses less than 150 yards for me are “controlled” by the Taliban. How can I sit on the roof, look over there and know that those poor people have to live with both a legitimate government and a shadow government operated by the Taliban?
The Taliban use fear to control the population. They stick letters to people’s doors in the middle of the night telling them to do this or that or we’ll kill you. They also provide basic governance to some people. If someone can’t get a conflict resolved with the Afghan government, they’ll go to the Taliban to resolve it.
I believe most Afghans just want to live a peaceful life. They just want to be left alone, raise their children and harvest their crops. If the Taliban tell them to be inside by 9 p.m., they do it because they don’t want their lives upset.
This is all happening just down the road from me. So why isn’t the coalition doing anything about it? They are, but it’s a matter of time. When you’re talking about so many different aspects of society, all having to be built up together, such as security, governance, education, development, road paving or even electricity and water, it simply takes a lot of time, money, resources and manpower. This is where the counter insurgency strategy comes in. You have to start somewhere and the dedication of resources goes to the areas with greatest impact. Large cities like Kandahar and Kabul are high on the list because so many people live and work there. Once these large areas are secured and developed has started, the Afghan Government works its way out to the smaller areas. Where I’m at now hasn’t been reached yet so although there’s troops here protecting and route clearing, it may be awhile before the coalition forces can clear the Taliban, hold the area and then start developing.
There’s not much the Taliban can do but harass and scare the Afghans, place IEDs and attack the strong point every now and then, while we sit right here. It’s just a matter of time before they’re pushed out of this area. Until that time comes, the Afghan National Army and the Canadians here will continue to build the trust, friendships and cooperation of the local people. These relationships will be important once the area is cleared of the Taliban.
Writing that sentence makes it almost sound as if you can walk down the street and point out the Taliban. In all my travels, I’ve never met anyone who can point out a Taliban. Even the people may not know who they are because all they get is some letter on their door saying “do this or we’ll kill you.”
It’s not an easy task and I don’t envy those who have to come and clear this area. But the time will come when the good guys will clear, hold and then develop this area.
For now, and for the past six years, the same group of Afghan National Army soldiers has been fighting the Taliban here. They often clear the roads and interact with the local population. I could tell a these ANA soldiers were different when I first arrived and had a chance to talk with the Canadian soldiers about them extensively.
These ANA soldiers know these roads and they know the people. Although some of their tactics may seem strange to foreigners, this is how experience has taught them to fight. To them, Afghanistan isn’t a six month deployment or a national debate about whether to stay or go – this is their life, they are fighting for their children futures. There is no going home, and there is no surrendering. They know what they want and their out here fighting for it.
As I sat down and ate dinner with the Canadian Soldiers, all three agreed they would trust these ANA soldiers with their life, and if allowed, would go on a patrol with them by themselves. A fourth soldier said “I would trust the ANA with my life, but not with my money … but I don’t trust my brother with my money or my friends with my sister either.”
This struck a chord with me because just the other day, I wrote I would only go on patrol with the ANA if other coalition forces were there to mentor them. These ANA are so professional and the Canadians had so much faith in them, I need to rethink that sentence.
Visiting Khyber was exactly what Ken and I hoped for. We’ve seen the small teams of Canadians living with and working with their Afghan partners. The Afghans proved to be exceptionally good at what they do, so much so the Canadians are learning from them. Tomorrow, we’re going to look for IEDs with all of them. It should be a fascinating experience. The ANA supposedly use their own methods to find IEDs, and while they may not be as rigged or precise as ISAF standards, they are Afghan standards and experience has been their greatest teacher.
30 Days Through Afghanistan: Found One! – Day 12
By U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathan Gallahan, ISAF Joint Command Public Affairs
February 22, 2010 - Strong Point Khyber. I would love to say I found the IED today, but I’ll have to wait until I’m an 80-year-old grandpa. For now I have to tell the truth, the Afghan National Army soldiers we were with found it.
It wasn’t much of a surprise, the Canadian soldiers who are partnered with them told us last night the ANA find nine out of ten of them. It’s because they’ve been doing it for more than six years and they know these roads and the Taliban.
We woke up this morning and got our armor on and started walking. It’s great to be outside of the wire to see the sunrise. It’s a type of beauty that can’t be expressed through a photograph. The way the oranges glint off the Soldier’s binoculars as they look for bad guys or the way the heat from your body floating up through your body armor mixes with the cool breeze to create a rather refreshing feeling on your neck. There’s nothing like a good IED hunt in the morning.
I’m new to searching for IEDs, so I walked in the tracks of the armored vehicle grinding along in front of me. I knew my family was probably sensing I was doing something dangerous and I didn’t want to get blown up on my first trip looking for one. Soldiers were searching for IEDs with metal detectors, eyeballs and a beautiful Doberman Pincher mix was sniffing away. There were more soldiers watching every direction from the armored vehicle ready to take down any confirmed bad guys. Then there was Ken and I in the back with hearts thumping and video cameras recording.
Experience is the best teacher, so the ANA were always out front. They can spot the things a lot better than any of the coalition forces can. So we walked and searched and walked some more. The streets were completely empty. There wasn’t a child or adult in sight. We owned the morning. I’ll admit, it was very surreal and it would have been quiet if it hadn’t been for the extremely noisy armored vehicle.
I built a friendship with one of the interpreters and we walked together for quite awhile. He’s been on countless searches and gave me a personal tour of the “battlefield” if you can call it that. “Do you see there?” he asked. “Where wall is broken? Talib plant IED there and blow himself up.”
“Here is where bomb exploded four meters from me.”
“IED planted under tree right here.”
“You see that building where grapes dried? Two months ago Talib attack from there, big firefight.”
It was amazing. As I was hearing one of these war stories, the sun crested the mountains and marked a new day. My eyes captured beauty while my ears caught hell.
The places where the various little streams flow under the road are amazingly dangerous. They all have grates blocking the culverts underneath, but they are still very carefully inspected. The group pauses a moment at each one and it’s checked and we proceed with the mission.
We turned around and started walking back. This time, I had a chance to walk with a Canadian captain. We talked about his first mission and how nervous he was and how he grew to really respect the ANA and their abilities. He told me about how their training was very limited. They’ve only received a two week engineering course but now they’ve been out here for six years and are experts at finding IEDs. We talked about the various cultural differences between the ways ISAF conducts business and how the ANA does. Just because it may be different than our own, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. It’s the way Afghans choose to conduct business, that’s their right.
The Afghan sergeant in charge of Strong Point Brown, the fort down the road from ours, asked us in for some tea and we eagerly accepted. We entered the fort and dropped our armor. Five seconds after Ken and I sat down next to a warm heater, we heard the crisp crack of gun shots, then more, and then a few more. Before the third set, every Soldier (and Airman) was running for their body armor. We suited up and started hoofing it down the road towards the gun fire. It turns out that the ANA who continued searching for IEDs up the road from the fort, found one. They saw the trigger men in the distance and fired warning shots to stop them, but they got away.
Ken and I followed quickly behind the Canadian captain until we ended up at the IED site. For safety reasons we kept our distance. I wasn’t about ready to risk my life for a picture of mortars. The IED had a simple pull string detonator on it, meaning you pull the string and it blows up. The ANA walked up earlier and snipped the string. Their bravery is astounding. Once we were on scene, we watched as the ANA and Canadian Soldiers worked together to search for any more IEDs or evidence in the area. Another group of ANA Soldiers were off questioning some local Afghans about the incident.
We walked around this building, jumped over this stream and walked about 100 yards before we reached where the trigger men would have been laying in wait for their target. We waited there until the suspected insurgents were brought over for questioning. It’s a strange feeling to look one in the eye.
After all of that excitement, things quickly died down. A quick response force was called in along with a counter-IED team. The QRF could be heard for miles away. These massive Leopard II tanks appeared from the mountains and grinded down the road as their turrets moved left and right, all while the orange glasses of the tank commander peered down at you. It’s a creepy good feeling seeing these bad boys drive by, but it almost seems too much in a counter insurgency. Overwhelming firepower is always a good thing though.
So then counter-IED started working in all types of ways that I can’t talk about and then the mission completed a few hours later.
Now, Ken and I are back in Masum Ghar. Looking back on my experience in Strong Point Khyber, I can now say I’ve seen Taliban country and what the “front lines” look in a counter insurgency. It’s nothing like I expected and my perceptions of this conflict have been forever altered. Looking forward on the rest of my trip, I can’t wait to learn more.
February 22, 2010 - Strong Point Khyber. I would love to say I found the IED today, but I’ll have to wait until I’m an 80-year-old grandpa. For now I have to tell the truth, the Afghan National Army soldiers we were with found it.
It wasn’t much of a surprise, the Canadian soldiers who are partnered with them told us last night the ANA find nine out of ten of them. It’s because they’ve been doing it for more than six years and they know these roads and the Taliban.
We woke up this morning and got our armor on and started walking. It’s great to be outside of the wire to see the sunrise. It’s a type of beauty that can’t be expressed through a photograph. The way the oranges glint off the Soldier’s binoculars as they look for bad guys or the way the heat from your body floating up through your body armor mixes with the cool breeze to create a rather refreshing feeling on your neck. There’s nothing like a good IED hunt in the morning.
I’m new to searching for IEDs, so I walked in the tracks of the armored vehicle grinding along in front of me. I knew my family was probably sensing I was doing something dangerous and I didn’t want to get blown up on my first trip looking for one. Soldiers were searching for IEDs with metal detectors, eyeballs and a beautiful Doberman Pincher mix was sniffing away. There were more soldiers watching every direction from the armored vehicle ready to take down any confirmed bad guys. Then there was Ken and I in the back with hearts thumping and video cameras recording.
Experience is the best teacher, so the ANA were always out front. They can spot the things a lot better than any of the coalition forces can. So we walked and searched and walked some more. The streets were completely empty. There wasn’t a child or adult in sight. We owned the morning. I’ll admit, it was very surreal and it would have been quiet if it hadn’t been for the extremely noisy armored vehicle.
I built a friendship with one of the interpreters and we walked together for quite awhile. He’s been on countless searches and gave me a personal tour of the “battlefield” if you can call it that. “Do you see there?” he asked. “Where wall is broken? Talib plant IED there and blow himself up.”
“Here is where bomb exploded four meters from me.”
“IED planted under tree right here.”
“You see that building where grapes dried? Two months ago Talib attack from there, big firefight.”
It was amazing. As I was hearing one of these war stories, the sun crested the mountains and marked a new day. My eyes captured beauty while my ears caught hell.
The places where the various little streams flow under the road are amazingly dangerous. They all have grates blocking the culverts underneath, but they are still very carefully inspected. The group pauses a moment at each one and it’s checked and we proceed with the mission.
We turned around and started walking back. This time, I had a chance to walk with a Canadian captain. We talked about his first mission and how nervous he was and how he grew to really respect the ANA and their abilities. He told me about how their training was very limited. They’ve only received a two week engineering course but now they’ve been out here for six years and are experts at finding IEDs. We talked about the various cultural differences between the ways ISAF conducts business and how the ANA does. Just because it may be different than our own, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. It’s the way Afghans choose to conduct business, that’s their right.
The Afghan sergeant in charge of Strong Point Brown, the fort down the road from ours, asked us in for some tea and we eagerly accepted. We entered the fort and dropped our armor. Five seconds after Ken and I sat down next to a warm heater, we heard the crisp crack of gun shots, then more, and then a few more. Before the third set, every Soldier (and Airman) was running for their body armor. We suited up and started hoofing it down the road towards the gun fire. It turns out that the ANA who continued searching for IEDs up the road from the fort, found one. They saw the trigger men in the distance and fired warning shots to stop them, but they got away.
Ken and I followed quickly behind the Canadian captain until we ended up at the IED site. For safety reasons we kept our distance. I wasn’t about ready to risk my life for a picture of mortars. The IED had a simple pull string detonator on it, meaning you pull the string and it blows up. The ANA walked up earlier and snipped the string. Their bravery is astounding. Once we were on scene, we watched as the ANA and Canadian Soldiers worked together to search for any more IEDs or evidence in the area. Another group of ANA Soldiers were off questioning some local Afghans about the incident.
We walked around this building, jumped over this stream and walked about 100 yards before we reached where the trigger men would have been laying in wait for their target. We waited there until the suspected insurgents were brought over for questioning. It’s a strange feeling to look one in the eye.
After all of that excitement, things quickly died down. A quick response force was called in along with a counter-IED team. The QRF could be heard for miles away. These massive Leopard II tanks appeared from the mountains and grinded down the road as their turrets moved left and right, all while the orange glasses of the tank commander peered down at you. It’s a creepy good feeling seeing these bad boys drive by, but it almost seems too much in a counter insurgency. Overwhelming firepower is always a good thing though.
So then counter-IED started working in all types of ways that I can’t talk about and then the mission completed a few hours later.
Now, Ken and I are back in Masum Ghar. Looking back on my experience in Strong Point Khyber, I can now say I’ve seen Taliban country and what the “front lines” look in a counter insurgency. It’s nothing like I expected and my perceptions of this conflict have been forever altered. Looking forward on the rest of my trip, I can’t wait to learn more.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. Jeremy R. McQueary, 27, of Columbus, Ind., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at 910-451-7200.
Sgt. Jeremy R. McQueary, 27, of Columbus, Ind., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at 910-451-7200.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Kielin T. Dunn, 19, of Chesapeake, Va., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at 910-451-7200.
Lance Cpl. Kielin T. Dunn, 19, of Chesapeake, Va., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at 910-451-7200.
Army Selects New Camouflage for Afghanistan
February 19, 2010 - The secretary of the Army announced today that the Army will provide combat uniforms in the MultiCam pattern to all soldiers deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, starting this summer.
This decision follows a rigorous four-month evaluation and reflects the Army's commitment to giving soldiers in Afghanistan the most effective concealment possible.
Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan this summer will receive fire resistant Army combat uniforms in MultiCam, along with associated equipment including body armor, rucksacks, and helmet covers.
The Army's selection of MultiCam for soldiers in Afghanistan culminates phase III of a four-phase plan to thoroughly and deliberately evaluate camouflage alternatives.
The Army took action in fall 2009 to provide two battalion-size elements in Afghanistan with uniforms and associated gear in patterns other than the standard-issue universal camouflage pattern (UCP). One unit received uniforms and gear in MultiCam, and the other in a variant of UCP known as UCP - Delta.
In addition, the Army deployed a team of experts to Afghanistan in October to gather extensive data and photos on the diverse environments of Afghanistan, where soldiers often travel through multiple environments in a single mission, from snow to woodland to desert.
The Army incorporated the information gathered into a photo simulation study it then administered to nearly 750 soldiers who had deployed to Afghanistan. The study asked them to compare six patterns against eight different environments. The results, along with surveys of soldiers in the two battalions who received alternate camouflage, formed the basis for the Army's decision on MultiCam.
The Army will now implement phase IV of its plan for camouflage, which is to evaluate long-term Army combat uniform camouflage options for all soldiers.
Camouflage alternatives represent one facet of the Army's ongoing efforts to improve the Army combat uniform. The Army has made more than 26 improvements to the ACU since it was first fielded in June 2004.
This decision follows a rigorous four-month evaluation and reflects the Army's commitment to giving soldiers in Afghanistan the most effective concealment possible.
Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan this summer will receive fire resistant Army combat uniforms in MultiCam, along with associated equipment including body armor, rucksacks, and helmet covers.
The Army's selection of MultiCam for soldiers in Afghanistan culminates phase III of a four-phase plan to thoroughly and deliberately evaluate camouflage alternatives.
The Army took action in fall 2009 to provide two battalion-size elements in Afghanistan with uniforms and associated gear in patterns other than the standard-issue universal camouflage pattern (UCP). One unit received uniforms and gear in MultiCam, and the other in a variant of UCP known as UCP - Delta.
In addition, the Army deployed a team of experts to Afghanistan in October to gather extensive data and photos on the diverse environments of Afghanistan, where soldiers often travel through multiple environments in a single mission, from snow to woodland to desert.
The Army incorporated the information gathered into a photo simulation study it then administered to nearly 750 soldiers who had deployed to Afghanistan. The study asked them to compare six patterns against eight different environments. The results, along with surveys of soldiers in the two battalions who received alternate camouflage, formed the basis for the Army's decision on MultiCam.
The Army will now implement phase IV of its plan for camouflage, which is to evaluate long-term Army combat uniform camouflage options for all soldiers.
Camouflage alternatives represent one facet of the Army's ongoing efforts to improve the Army combat uniform. The Army has made more than 26 improvements to the ACU since it was first fielded in June 2004.
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Larry M. Johnson, 19, of Scranton, Pa., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at 910-451-7200.
Lance Cpl. Larry M. Johnson, 19, of Scranton, Pa., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at 910-451-7200.
Seven Charged with Illegal Export of Electronics to U.S.-Designated Terrorist Entity in Paraguay
February 19, 2010 - Jeffrey H. Sloman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Investigations; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; Harold Woodward, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); Michael Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Commerce (DOC); Adam J. Szubin, Director, Department of the Treasury’s, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC); and Michael Fithen, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, Miami Field Office, announced the indictment of four individuals and three Miami businesses on charges involving the export of electronics to a U.S. designated terrorist entity in
Samer Mehdi, 37, of Paraguay; Khaled T. Safadi, 56, of Miami, FL; Ulises Talavera, 46, of Miami, FL; Emilio Jacinto Gonzalez-Neira, 43, of Paraguay; Cedar Distributors, Inc. (Cedar), a Miami-based freight forwarding company owned by defendant Safadi; Transamerica Express of Miami, Inc. (Transamerica), a Miami-based freight forwarding company owned by defendant Talavera; and Jumbo Cargo, Inc. (Jumbo), a Miami-based freight forwarding company owned by defendant Gonzalez-Neira, were indicted on charges of conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 371, violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701-1706, and smuggling electronic goods from the United States to Paraguay, 18 U.S.C. § 554. The Indictment also seeks the forfeiture of an amount equal to the value of the electronics that were illegally exported. If convicted, the individual defendants face up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the IEEPA charges, 10 years’ imprisonment on the smuggling charges, and five years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy charge. The companies each face up to five years’ probation on all charges, and fines of up to $1,000,000 on the IEEPA charges, and $250,000 on the smuggling and conspiracy charges, respectively.
On Feb. 18, 2010, ICE special agents along with agents and officers of CBP, FBI, DOC, OFAC, and the Secret Service, executed arrest and search warrants as a result of this criminal investigation. Cedar owner Khaled Safadi and Transamerica owner Ulises Talavera were arrested in Doral, FL, Jumbo owner Emilio Gonzalez-Neira was arrested in Sunny Isles, FL, and Jomana Import Export owner Samer Mehdi is still at large. Safadi, Talavera and Gonzalez-Neira had their initial appearances today. Gonzalez-Neira was held in pre-trial detention, and Safadi and Talavera are being held in pre-trial detention pending their bond hearings, which are scheduled for Monday, March 1, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.
This investigation was initiated in 2007 by ICE, FBI, CBP, and DOC, as part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). According to the allegations in the Indictment, from at least as early as March 2007 through and continuing to at least January 2008, freight-forwarders Talavera, through Transamerica, and Gonzalez-Neira, through Jumbo, exported Sony brand electronics, including Playstation 2 consoles and digital cameras, to defendant Samer Mehdi, owner of Jomana Import Export, an electronics business located within the Galeria Page, a shopping center in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. Safadi, through Cedar, was a distributor of the electronics to the freight-forwarders.
Since December 6, 2006, the shopping center known as Galeria Page in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, has been designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity by OFAC, pursuant to Executive Order 13224. Consequently, any transaction or dealing by a U.S. person with Galeria Page, including any transaction or dealing with an entity within Galeria Page, is prohibited. The OFAC designation banned trade with Galeria Page and all tenants located therein. At all relevant times to the Indictment, it is alleged that the defendants were aware that shipping to Galeria Page was prohibited.
To conceal the true destination of the prohibited shipments, the defendants created fake invoices that contained false addresses and also listed fictitious ultimate consignees on the required Shippers Export Declarations (SEDs), and other necessary export paperwork. Locations referenced in these false documents, as well as corresponding emails, ensured that the electronics would reach the prohibited intended destination. Additionally, wire transfer payments from Mehdi in Paraguay to the U.S.-based distributors were routed through various facilities to mask their true origin.
On September 23, 2001, pursuant to his authority under IEEPA, then President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13224, and declared a national emergency to deal with the threat of acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists. The Executive Order empowered the U.S. Secretary of State to designate individuals or entities as having committed or as posing a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism that threaten the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. The Order also authorized the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to designate certain individuals or entities as owned or controlled by, acting for or on behalf of, or providing support to, foreign terrorists. Executive Order 13224 blocked the property interests of such designated entities and persons, known as SDGTs. This Executive Order was in effect at all times relevant to this Indictment.
To implement Executive Order 13224, the U.S. Department of Treasury, through the OFAC, issued regulations that, among other things, prohibited any transactions or dealings in blocked property, or any transactions with an SDGT by a U.S. person in the absence of a specific license granted by OFAC. No such licenses were granted to the defendants here.
U.S. Attorney Jeffrey H. Sloman stated, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously enforce OFAC regulations and federal laws designed to shut down financing to individuals or entities that pose a potential threat to our national security.”
“This international ICE-led multi-jurisdictional investigation demonstrates ICE’s mission to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations that support designated terrorist entities and participate in the illicit trade of commodities that support terrorist activities and ultimately threaten the national security of the United States,” said Anthony V. Mangione, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Miami.
FBI Special Agent in Charge John V. Gillies, stated, “The tri-border region is an area of concern to the FBI and our law enforcement partners both in the United States and overseas. We will continue our efforts to safeguard our national security and economic interests, including investigations of violations of our export laws that harm the United States.”
Harold Woodward Director of Field Operations for Customs and Border Protection stated “The changing face of terrorists and other criminal groups pose an increased area of concern for CBP and by fostering relationships with other law enforcement and intelligence agencies and foreign governments we improve the total security of global trade and travel. Dismantling these criminal organizations plays a major role in insuring the safety of our homeland.”
“OFAC will continue to pursue aggressive enforcement actions against domestic and foreign entities that conduct business with terrorist-linked entities through the United States," said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin.
Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of ICE’s Office of Investigations in Miami, FBI, CBP, DOC, OFAC, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. State Department, Office of the ICE Attaché Buenos Aires and Office of the ICE Attaché Brasilia, and the cooperation of the Paraguayan and Brazilian governments. ICE’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Center and Trade Transparency Unit assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allyson Fritz and Russell Koonin, and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Mariclaire Rourke.
An Indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Samer Mehdi, 37, of Paraguay; Khaled T. Safadi, 56, of Miami, FL; Ulises Talavera, 46, of Miami, FL; Emilio Jacinto Gonzalez-Neira, 43, of Paraguay; Cedar Distributors, Inc. (Cedar), a Miami-based freight forwarding company owned by defendant Safadi; Transamerica Express of Miami, Inc. (Transamerica), a Miami-based freight forwarding company owned by defendant Talavera; and Jumbo Cargo, Inc. (Jumbo), a Miami-based freight forwarding company owned by defendant Gonzalez-Neira, were indicted on charges of conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 371, violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701-1706, and smuggling electronic goods from the United States to Paraguay, 18 U.S.C. § 554. The Indictment also seeks the forfeiture of an amount equal to the value of the electronics that were illegally exported. If convicted, the individual defendants face up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the IEEPA charges, 10 years’ imprisonment on the smuggling charges, and five years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy charge. The companies each face up to five years’ probation on all charges, and fines of up to $1,000,000 on the IEEPA charges, and $250,000 on the smuggling and conspiracy charges, respectively.
On Feb. 18, 2010, ICE special agents along with agents and officers of CBP, FBI, DOC, OFAC, and the Secret Service, executed arrest and search warrants as a result of this criminal investigation. Cedar owner Khaled Safadi and Transamerica owner Ulises Talavera were arrested in Doral, FL, Jumbo owner Emilio Gonzalez-Neira was arrested in Sunny Isles, FL, and Jomana Import Export owner Samer Mehdi is still at large. Safadi, Talavera and Gonzalez-Neira had their initial appearances today. Gonzalez-Neira was held in pre-trial detention, and Safadi and Talavera are being held in pre-trial detention pending their bond hearings, which are scheduled for Monday, March 1, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.
This investigation was initiated in 2007 by ICE, FBI, CBP, and DOC, as part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). According to the allegations in the Indictment, from at least as early as March 2007 through and continuing to at least January 2008, freight-forwarders Talavera, through Transamerica, and Gonzalez-Neira, through Jumbo, exported Sony brand electronics, including Playstation 2 consoles and digital cameras, to defendant Samer Mehdi, owner of Jomana Import Export, an electronics business located within the Galeria Page, a shopping center in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. Safadi, through Cedar, was a distributor of the electronics to the freight-forwarders.
Since December 6, 2006, the shopping center known as Galeria Page in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, has been designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity by OFAC, pursuant to Executive Order 13224. Consequently, any transaction or dealing by a U.S. person with Galeria Page, including any transaction or dealing with an entity within Galeria Page, is prohibited. The OFAC designation banned trade with Galeria Page and all tenants located therein. At all relevant times to the Indictment, it is alleged that the defendants were aware that shipping to Galeria Page was prohibited.
To conceal the true destination of the prohibited shipments, the defendants created fake invoices that contained false addresses and also listed fictitious ultimate consignees on the required Shippers Export Declarations (SEDs), and other necessary export paperwork. Locations referenced in these false documents, as well as corresponding emails, ensured that the electronics would reach the prohibited intended destination. Additionally, wire transfer payments from Mehdi in Paraguay to the U.S.-based distributors were routed through various facilities to mask their true origin.
On September 23, 2001, pursuant to his authority under IEEPA, then President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13224, and declared a national emergency to deal with the threat of acts of terrorism and threats of terrorism committed by foreign terrorists. The Executive Order empowered the U.S. Secretary of State to designate individuals or entities as having committed or as posing a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism that threaten the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. The Order also authorized the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to designate certain individuals or entities as owned or controlled by, acting for or on behalf of, or providing support to, foreign terrorists. Executive Order 13224 blocked the property interests of such designated entities and persons, known as SDGTs. This Executive Order was in effect at all times relevant to this Indictment.
To implement Executive Order 13224, the U.S. Department of Treasury, through the OFAC, issued regulations that, among other things, prohibited any transactions or dealings in blocked property, or any transactions with an SDGT by a U.S. person in the absence of a specific license granted by OFAC. No such licenses were granted to the defendants here.
U.S. Attorney Jeffrey H. Sloman stated, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously enforce OFAC regulations and federal laws designed to shut down financing to individuals or entities that pose a potential threat to our national security.”
“This international ICE-led multi-jurisdictional investigation demonstrates ICE’s mission to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations that support designated terrorist entities and participate in the illicit trade of commodities that support terrorist activities and ultimately threaten the national security of the United States,” said Anthony V. Mangione, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Miami.
FBI Special Agent in Charge John V. Gillies, stated, “The tri-border region is an area of concern to the FBI and our law enforcement partners both in the United States and overseas. We will continue our efforts to safeguard our national security and economic interests, including investigations of violations of our export laws that harm the United States.”
Harold Woodward Director of Field Operations for Customs and Border Protection stated “The changing face of terrorists and other criminal groups pose an increased area of concern for CBP and by fostering relationships with other law enforcement and intelligence agencies and foreign governments we improve the total security of global trade and travel. Dismantling these criminal organizations plays a major role in insuring the safety of our homeland.”
“OFAC will continue to pursue aggressive enforcement actions against domestic and foreign entities that conduct business with terrorist-linked entities through the United States," said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin.
Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of ICE’s Office of Investigations in Miami, FBI, CBP, DOC, OFAC, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. State Department, Office of the ICE Attaché Buenos Aires and Office of the ICE Attaché Brasilia, and the cooperation of the Paraguayan and Brazilian governments. ICE’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Center and Trade Transparency Unit assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allyson Fritz and Russell Koonin, and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Mariclaire Rourke.
An Indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pfc. Charles A. Williams, 29, of Fair Oaks, Calif., died Feb. 7 at Camp Nathan Smith, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 97th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, Fort Riley, Kan.
For more information the media may contact the Fort Riley public affairs office at 785- 240-1893, 785- 239-3033/3410, or after hours at 785- 210-8867.
Pfc. Charles A. Williams, 29, of Fair Oaks, Calif., died Feb. 7 at Camp Nathan Smith, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 97th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, Fort Riley, Kan.
For more information the media may contact the Fort Riley public affairs office at 785- 240-1893, 785- 239-3033/3410, or after hours at 785- 210-8867.
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pfc. Kyle J. Coutu, 20, of Providence, R.I., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at 910-451-7200.
Pfc. Kyle J. Coutu, 20, of Providence, R.I., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the II Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at 910-451-7200.
Justice Department and FBI Announce Formal Conclusion of Investigation into 2001 Anthrax Attacks
February 19, 2010 - The Justice Department, FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service today announced that the investigation into the 2001 anthrax attacks, which killed five individuals and sickened 17 others, has formally concluded.
Earlier today, representatives of the FBI and Justice Department provided a 92-page investigative summary along with attachments to victims of the attacks, relatives of the victims and appropriate committees of Congress. This document sets forth a summary of the evidence developed in the "Amerithrax" investigation, the largest investigation into a bio-weapons attack in U.S. history. As disclosed previously, the Amerithrax investigation found that the late Dr. Bruce Ivins acted alone in planning and executing these attacks.
The investigative summary and the attachments are now accessible to the public and have been posted to the Justice Department Web site at www.usdoj.gov/amerithrax under the Freedom of Information Act. In addition, roughly 2,700 pages of FBI documents related to the Amerithrax case are now accessible to the public and have been posted to the FBI website at http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/amerithrax.htm under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Amerithrax Task Force, which was comprised of roughly 25 to 30 full-time investigators from the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and other law enforcement agencies, as well as federal prosecutors from the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section, expended hundreds of thousands of investigator work hours on this case. Their investigative efforts involved more than 10,000 witness interviews on six different continents, the execution of 80 searches and the recovery of more than 6,000 items of potential evidence during the course of the investigation. The case involved the issuance of more than 5,750 grand jury subpoenas and the collection of 5,730 environmental samples from 60 site locations.
Earlier today, representatives of the FBI and Justice Department provided a 92-page investigative summary along with attachments to victims of the attacks, relatives of the victims and appropriate committees of Congress. This document sets forth a summary of the evidence developed in the "Amerithrax" investigation, the largest investigation into a bio-weapons attack in U.S. history. As disclosed previously, the Amerithrax investigation found that the late Dr. Bruce Ivins acted alone in planning and executing these attacks.
The investigative summary and the attachments are now accessible to the public and have been posted to the Justice Department Web site at www.usdoj.gov/amerithrax under the Freedom of Information Act. In addition, roughly 2,700 pages of FBI documents related to the Amerithrax case are now accessible to the public and have been posted to the FBI website at http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/amerithrax.htm under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Amerithrax Task Force, which was comprised of roughly 25 to 30 full-time investigators from the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and other law enforcement agencies, as well as federal prosecutors from the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section, expended hundreds of thousands of investigator work hours on this case. Their investigative efforts involved more than 10,000 witness interviews on six different continents, the execution of 80 searches and the recovery of more than 6,000 items of potential evidence during the course of the investigation. The case involved the issuance of more than 5,750 grand jury subpoenas and the collection of 5,730 environmental samples from 60 site locations.
Welcome Home message from the Adjutant General of Wisconsin
February 19, 2010 - More than 3,200 "Red Arrow" Soldiers returned to Wisconsin recently, marking the end of an historic year in the Wisconsin National Guard. In 2009, the Wisconsin National Guard deployed as many as 40 percent of our Soldiers and Airmen for combat operations. Of the units that deployed, the largest formation was the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) - Wisconsin's largest operational deployment since World War II. The 32nd IBCT is a direct descendant of the famed 32nd Red Arrow Division that served in World Wars I and II, and was mobilized for the Berlin Crisis of 1961. This record deployment completes another proud chapter in the 32nd's history and reaffirms the "Red Arrow" legacy and motto - "Forward."
2009 was a tough year for our nation. The public is understandably concerned about record deficits, bank failures, falling home values, rising unemployment, wide-spread fraud and corruption. Things were so bad in 2009 that it would be easy to focus on the things that were not working and miss some wonderful aspects of our society that are working. Wisconsin - your National Guard is working and working well.
I am proud to report to the citizens of Wisconsin that your National Guard performed superbly. Your citizen-Soldiers and citizen-Airmen have answered the call of duty and have served magnificently. I already mentioned the 32nd IBCT, and this is a great story; however, our participation was broader and more robust in 2009.
- Six separate units from the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and the 64th Troop Command mobilized and deployed with the 32nd IBCT - the 257th Brigade Support Battalion, the 108th Forward Support Company, the 32nd Military Police Company, the 829th Engineer Company, the 1158th Transportation Company Detachment 1, and Battery A, 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery. All performed diverse missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- The 115th Fighter Wing deployed for Operation Iraq Freedom and flew more than 400 combat sorties, and the 115th Fighter Wing's security forces deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom.
- The 128th Air Refueling Wing deployed in support of both Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and flew more than 190 combat support sorties, during which they off-loaded more than 14 million pounds of fuel to coalition aircraft.
- About 60 members of our 128th Air Control Squadron deployed to Southwest Asia where they were responsible for command and control of the Central Command airspace.
- The 951st Combat Engineer "Sapper" Company deployed to Afghanistan and conducted route clearance operations. Difficult and demanding duty required that they seek out and neutralize improvised explosive devices and road side bombs. The 951st excelled and were constantly called upon for the most difficult assignments by their commander who knew he could rely on the unit to get the job done. This unit earned more than 100 combat action badges, 21 bronze stars (four with "V" for valor), and 15 purple hearts were awarded. Sadly, we had our only combat loss during this deployment as Sgt. Ryan Adams, a superb Soldier from Rhinelander, paid the ultimate price for his nation.
Reflective of today's more operational National Guard, we still have two units deployed - the Headquarters Company, 732nd Combat Support Sustainment Battalion (CSSB) supporting logistics operations throughout Iraq and our fourth embedded training team (ETT) deployed to Afghanistan helping to train Afghani soldiers and police officers. Later this year, we will deploy our 724th Combat Engineer Battalion and the 147th Assault Aviation Battalion.
These returning warriors will get our full attention as they transition back to civilian life. My team is fully focused on our reintegration efforts and I'm proud to report that we are partnering with Wisconsin state agencies, Veterans Affairs, and service organizations such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars to give our Soldiers and Airmen every tool we can provide to ease the sometimes difficult transition.
These Soldiers and Airmen are the best that Wisconsin has to offer.
As they return to civilian life, they bring a deep and rich experience - they will be better parents, better students, better employees, and better citizens. They have committed to something larger than themselves, understand team work and bring a leadership that has been forged under difficult conditions. I believe that this generation of veterans will return to our communities, schools, companies, industries and make profound contributions as citizens. There is something very special about men and women who risk their lives defending our freedom. I am very proud of these Guardsmen. Wisconsin - your national guard is truly exceptional. Thank you for your continued support.
2009 was a tough year for our nation. The public is understandably concerned about record deficits, bank failures, falling home values, rising unemployment, wide-spread fraud and corruption. Things were so bad in 2009 that it would be easy to focus on the things that were not working and miss some wonderful aspects of our society that are working. Wisconsin - your National Guard is working and working well.
I am proud to report to the citizens of Wisconsin that your National Guard performed superbly. Your citizen-Soldiers and citizen-Airmen have answered the call of duty and have served magnificently. I already mentioned the 32nd IBCT, and this is a great story; however, our participation was broader and more robust in 2009.
- Six separate units from the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and the 64th Troop Command mobilized and deployed with the 32nd IBCT - the 257th Brigade Support Battalion, the 108th Forward Support Company, the 32nd Military Police Company, the 829th Engineer Company, the 1158th Transportation Company Detachment 1, and Battery A, 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery. All performed diverse missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- The 115th Fighter Wing deployed for Operation Iraq Freedom and flew more than 400 combat sorties, and the 115th Fighter Wing's security forces deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom.
- The 128th Air Refueling Wing deployed in support of both Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and flew more than 190 combat support sorties, during which they off-loaded more than 14 million pounds of fuel to coalition aircraft.
- About 60 members of our 128th Air Control Squadron deployed to Southwest Asia where they were responsible for command and control of the Central Command airspace.
- The 951st Combat Engineer "Sapper" Company deployed to Afghanistan and conducted route clearance operations. Difficult and demanding duty required that they seek out and neutralize improvised explosive devices and road side bombs. The 951st excelled and were constantly called upon for the most difficult assignments by their commander who knew he could rely on the unit to get the job done. This unit earned more than 100 combat action badges, 21 bronze stars (four with "V" for valor), and 15 purple hearts were awarded. Sadly, we had our only combat loss during this deployment as Sgt. Ryan Adams, a superb Soldier from Rhinelander, paid the ultimate price for his nation.
Reflective of today's more operational National Guard, we still have two units deployed - the Headquarters Company, 732nd Combat Support Sustainment Battalion (CSSB) supporting logistics operations throughout Iraq and our fourth embedded training team (ETT) deployed to Afghanistan helping to train Afghani soldiers and police officers. Later this year, we will deploy our 724th Combat Engineer Battalion and the 147th Assault Aviation Battalion.
These returning warriors will get our full attention as they transition back to civilian life. My team is fully focused on our reintegration efforts and I'm proud to report that we are partnering with Wisconsin state agencies, Veterans Affairs, and service organizations such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars to give our Soldiers and Airmen every tool we can provide to ease the sometimes difficult transition.
These Soldiers and Airmen are the best that Wisconsin has to offer.
As they return to civilian life, they bring a deep and rich experience - they will be better parents, better students, better employees, and better citizens. They have committed to something larger than themselves, understand team work and bring a leadership that has been forged under difficult conditions. I believe that this generation of veterans will return to our communities, schools, companies, industries and make profound contributions as citizens. There is something very special about men and women who risk their lives defending our freedom. I am very proud of these Guardsmen. Wisconsin - your national guard is truly exceptional. Thank you for your continued support.
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