Strategic Dividends of Iraq Efforts Within Reach, Official Says

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2012 – Six months after U.S. combat troops withdrew from Iraq, long-term efforts there by the Defense and State departments have put strategic dividends within reach, the chief of staff to the undersecretary of defense for policy said today.

Peter F. Verga testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s subcommittee on national security, homeland defense and foreign operations, along with Patrick Kennedy, undersecretary of state for management.

“DOD has worked closely with Department of State to help ensure a successful transition to the civilian-led presence in Iraq,” Verga told the panel. “That successful transition enables us to concentrate on building a long-term strategic partnership based on mutual interests and mutual respect.”

Given Iraq's importance, situated strategically in the Middle East, Verga noted, it is profoundly in the U.S. national interest “that Iraq emerge as a strategic partner with the United States; a sovereign, stable, self-reliant nation; and a positive force for moderation and stability in the region.”

In November 2008, the U.S. and Iraqi governments agreed that the United States would withdraw its troops by the end of 2011, U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, the subcommittee’s chairman, said. Today, 275 remaining military personnel work under the chief-of-mission authority of the State Department’s Office of Security Cooperation, and the State Department’s footprint there has expanded, he added.

Some 2,000 direct-hire personnel and 14,000 support contractors in Iraq include 7,000 private security contractors to guard facilities and move personnel throughout Iraq, Chaffetz said.

Verga said the Defense Department continues to work with the State Department on assignment of DOD personnel, extensions of equipment loans and contracting assistance.

“The focus is now on cementing a normalized presence in Iraq with Department of State in the lead,” he told the panel. “That means building on years of working with the Iraqis to create a lasting, long-term security relationship, including a robust foreign military sales program.” The department’s $11.6 billion foreign military sales program with Iraq is the fourth-largest in the region and the ninth-largest in the world, he said.

Iraq has requested the sale of 36 F-16 fighter jets and associated training at a value of about $6 billion, Verga added, “and this case stands out as the cornerstone of the long-term U.S.-Iraq strategic relationship.”

Iraq has deposited about $2.5 billion toward the sale, and deliveries of the first aircraft are scheduled in September 2014, he said. Iraq’s “commitment to this program is a testimony to the future of the U.S.-Iraq partnership, Verga added.

Kennedy said the U.S. strategic goal continues to be a united, unified, democratic and stable Iraq.

“The State Department has always planned to align our presence in Iraq with other comparable U.S. missions, but transition planning called for a robust structure that could handle multiple situations,” he added. “Now that we have successfully transitioned, we are methodically streamlining our operations in a phased approach, which we call the glide path.”

State Department planning for Iraq began in late 2009 with an interdisciplinary team from State, DOD and the U.S. Agency for International Development, he added. And in October 2011, the embassy and its consulates were fully operational and mission-capable.

“We have continued to complete our facilities, and despite the challenging environment, we have been and will continue to carry out our diplomatic mission,” Kennedy said. “Task orders for static and movement security were awarded under the worldwide protective services contract for all State Department sites.”

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security performs increased oversight to ensure the professionalism of security contractor personnel, he added, and the State Department has asked that DOD continue to provide various services through 2013 under the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program, called LOGCAP, and through the Defense Logistics Agency.

“Our partnership with the Department of Defense remains highly effective,” Kennedy said. “A post-transition working group meets twice a month to discuss life support [and] we are working on local sourcing of more food and fuel.”

The State Department plans to award a support contract to replace LOGCAP by the end of 2013. Under another contract, aviation operations support all U.S. government elements in Iraq using five dedicated fixed-wing aircraft and 31 helicopters.

“Missions include medical evacuation, movement of security support, personnel, transportation of personnel within Iraq and movement of personnel into and out of Iraq,” he said. “We plan to downsize that program under the glide path.”

In terms of lessons learned in Iraq that might apply to Afghanistan at some future point, Verga and Kennedy both said planning is critical.

“From our perspective,” Verga said, “the most important lesson that we're learning is the requirement for both advanced planning and, essentially, a continuous cooperation and monitoring process as we move through a transitional period.

“We can't drop any of the balls that are going on,” he continued, “and I think it was a good lesson in interagency cooperation and information sharing that made this transition successful.”

Texas Resident Convicted on Charge of Attempted Use of Weapon of Mass Destruction

Khalid Aldawsari Purchased Bomb Materials and Researched U.S. Targets

AMARILLO, TX—Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, 22, a citizen of Saudi Arabia and resident of Lubbock, Texas, was convicted by a federal jury today on an indictment charging one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction in connection with his purchase of chemicals and equipment necessary to make an improvised explosive device (IED) and his research of potential U.S. targets, including persons and infrastructure.

The verdict, which was reached in the Northern District of Texas, was announced by Sarah R. Saldaña, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas; Lisa Monaco, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; and Diego G. Rodriguez, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field Division.

Sentencing has been scheduled for October 9, 2012, in Amarillo. Aldawsari, who was lawfully admitted into the United States in 2008 on a student visa and was enrolled at South Plains College near Lubbock, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. He was arrested on February 23, 2011 on a criminal complaint and later charged in a March 9, 2011 federal indictment with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

According to court documents and evidence presented during trial, at the time of his arrest last year, Aldawsari had been researching online how to construct an IED using several chemicals as ingredients. He had also acquired or taken a substantial step toward acquiring most of the ingredients and equipment necessary to construct an IED, and he had conducted online research of several potential U.S. targets, the affidavit alleges. In addition, he had allegedly described his desire for violent jihad and martyrdom in blog postings and a personal journal.

“While many people are responsible for thwarting Aldawsari’s threat and bringing him to justice, we owe a debt of gratitude to all the members of the North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force, and especially to the hundreds of hardworking and dedicated FBI agents, analysts, linguists, and others,” said U.S. Attorney Saldaña. “Their efforts, coupled with the hard work and excellent cooperation from the Lubbock Police Department and the Texas Tech Police Department, are the reason we were able to stop this defendant from carrying out a catastrophic act of terrorism.”

“As this trial demonstrated, Aldawsari purchased ingredients to construct an explosive device and was actively researching potential targets in the United States. Thanks to the efforts of many agents, analysts, and prosecutors, this plot was thwarted before it could advance further,” said Assistant Attorney General Monaco. “This case serves as another reminder of the need for continued vigilance both at home and abroad.”

“Today’s guilty verdict shows how individuals in the United States with the intent to do harm can acquire the knowledge and materials necessary to carry out an attack,” said SAC Rodriguez. “Our success in locating and preventing Mr. Aldawsari from carrying out an attack is a result of cooperation within the law enforcement and intelligence communities, particularly, the North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Texas Tech Police Department, the Lubbock Police Department, and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, but also a demonstration of information sharing across FBI divisions, as well as assistance from the community. I want to thank the dedicated agents, officers, and analysts; the computer forensics team; and linguists that worked diligently on this investigation, as well as prosecutors serving in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District.”

The government presented evidence that on February 1, 2011, a chemical supplier reported to the FBI a suspicious attempted purchase of concentrated phenol by a man identifying himself as Khalid Aldawsari. Phenol is a toxic chemical with legitimate uses, but it can also be used to make the explosive trinitrophenol, also known as T.N.P., or picric acid. Ingredients typically used with phenol to make picric acid, or T.N.P., are concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids.

Aldawsari attempted to have the phenol order shipped to a freight company so it could be held for him there, but the freight company told Aldawsari that the order had been returned to the supplier and called the police. Later, Aldawsari falsely told the supplier he was associated with a university and wanted the phenol for “off-campus, personal research.” Frustrated by questions being asked over his phenol order, Aldawsari cancelled his order, placed an order with another company, and later e-mailed himself instructions for producing phenol. In December 2010, he had successfully purchased concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids.

Aldawsari used various e-mail accounts in researching explosives and targets and often sent e-mails to himself as part of this process. He e-mailed himself a recipe for picric acid, which was described in the e-mail as a “military explosive” and also e-mailed himself instructions on how to convert a cell phone into a remote detonator and how to prepare a booby-trapped vehicle using household items. Aldawsari also purchased many other items, including a Hazmat suit, a soldering iron kit, glass beakers and flasks, a stun gun, clocks, and a battery tester.

Excerpts from a journal found at Aldawsari’s residence indicated that he had been planning to commit a terrorist attack in the United States for years. One entry describes how Aldawsari sought and obtained a particular scholarship because it allowed him to come directly to the United States and helped him financially, which he said “will help tremendously in providing me with the support I need for Jihad.” The entry continues, “And now, after mastering the English language, learning how to build explosives and continuous planning to target the infidel Americans, it is time for Jihad.”

In another entry, Aldawsari wrote that he was near to reaching his goal and near to getting weapons to use against infidels and their helpers. He also listed a “synopsis of important steps” that included obtaining a forged U.S. birth certificate; renting a car; using different driver’s licenses for each car rented; putting bombs in cars and taking them to different places during rush hour; and leaving the city for a safe place.

Aldawsari conducted research on various targets and e-mailed himself information on these locations and people. One of the documents he sent himself, with the subject line listed as “Targets,” contained the names and home addresses of three American citizens who had previously served in the U.S. military and had been stationed for a time at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. In others, Aldawsari sent himself the names of 12 reservoir dams in Colorado and California and listed two categories of targets: hydroelectric dams and nuclear power plants. He also sent himself an e-mail titled “Tyrant’s House,” in which he listed the Dallas address for former President George W. Bush. Aldawsari also conducted research that indicated he considered using infant dolls to conceal explosives and the possible targeting of a nightclub with an explosive concealed in a backpack.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Dallas Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from the Lubbock Police Department and the Texas Tech Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey R. Haag, Denise Williams, James T. Jacks, and Matthew J. Kacsmaryk and Trial Attorney David Cora from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

Combined Force Detains Taliban Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force and ISAF Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader during an operation in the Kandahar district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province today, military officials reported.

The detained Taliban leader, an improvised explosive device specialist, directed insurgents during attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

The security force also detained multiple suspected insurgents and seized several small-arms weapons and ammunition, officials said.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents, confiscated multiple AK-47 rifles, and seized more than 1,000 pounds of opium during a search for a Taliban leader in the Now Zad district of Helmand province. The sought-after insurgent leader directs attacks against Afghan forces and acts as a Taliban enforcer in the district.

-- In the Sabari district of Khost province, a combined force detained a Haqqani leader who’d planned and coordinated attacks and distributed weapons and IED-making components throughout the region.

In June 27 operations:

-- A coalition airstrike killed one insurgent in Ghazni province’s Giro district in response to insurgents emplacing IEDs.

-- In separate operations, combined forces detained one insurgent in Khowst province’s Terezayi district and detained another suspect in the province’s Sperah district.

-- Afghan police and coalition forces killed one insurgent during a firefight in the Bak district of Khowst province.

-- Afghan police and coalition forces detained one insurgent during an engagement in Kunar province’s Ghaziabad district.

-- A combined force killed one insurgent during a firefight in the Bermal district of Paktika province.

Face of Defense: Deployed Airman Lives by Core Values

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Stephen Hudson

169th Fighter Wing

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, June 28, 2012 – Just two months into her first deployment, Air Force Airman 1st Class Rhiannon O’Leary is staying busy. While working for the 451st Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron in line delivery for munitions, O’Leary is living the Air Force’s core values of integrity, excellence and service before self at work and off duty.

While her day-to-day mission is transporting munitions from the ammunition supply point to the flightline for loading, O’Leary has taken the opportunity to get involved in other activities.

On one of her first weekends, she visited the bazaar school here and spent the afternoon playing with the boys at the school.

“I love kids,” the mother of three said. “It was an experience, and puts things into perspective, because a soccer ball and a Frisbee to play with bring them so much joy.”

She added that she plans on visiting again during her four-month deployment. “I wish they lived in a better place,” O’Leary said. “But kids are kids anywhere you go.”

Volunteering at the bazaar is just one way O’Leary applies the Air Force core values. She also is working on becoming a victims’ advocate with the sexual assault response coordinator’s office, and recently took litter-carrying training at the aeromedical staging facility so she can help to carry wounded warriors to transport aircraft that take them to other medical facilities.

“Airman O’Leary has showed great leadership and a sense of urgency to get the job done,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Kenneth Prince, O’Leary’s supervisor here. “In this high-pressure job, it’s important to keep your military bearing. She exemplifies this every day.”

When O’Leary returns from her deployment, she said, she will return to school at Florence-Darlington Technical College in Florence, S.C., where she is studying criminal justice.

O’Leary is a member of the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing from McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C. In April, the 169th Fighter Wing deployed more than a dozen F-16s and 400 personnel -- including pilots, maintenance specialists and support staff to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The wing deployed through August.