Gates, Mullen Reflect on Troop Sacrifices Since 9/11

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2010 – As the nation today honors the nearly 3,000 innocent Americans killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Americans also should remember the sacrifice of military members and their families, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.

“Nine years ago today, on a day much like this, the calm of a clear, September morning was shattered by the worst acts of terrorism in our nation’s history,” Gates said. “Today we honor and celebrate those who fell, surrounded by those who love them and who still feel the pain of that loss.”

Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the nation’s top-ranking military officer, joined President Barack Obama in a remembrance ceremony at the Pentagon’s 9/11 Memorial today.

The memorial opened on the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. It was built adjacent to the Pentagon, near the site where al-Qaida terrorists crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the nation’s military headquarters.

Families of people who died in the attack also gathered at the ceremony. The terrorist hijacking left 184 people dead: 125 Pentagon workers and 59 on the aircraft. All five hijackers also were killed in the crash.

Over the past nine years, more than 5,500 servicemembers have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan with hopes of preventing future terrorist attacks on American soil. U.S. and international troops deployed to Afghanistan in October 2001 to interdict terrorist planning and training there. American troops entered Iraq in March 2003.

“Our troops and their families have paid a steep price these last nine years, but have also shown resilience and strength in the best traditions of the country, a country that cherishes their service and the memory of those who have fallen,” Gates said.

An entire generation of servicemembers has responded to that mission and continues to do so today, Gates said, as nearly 100,000 troops are deployed to Afghanistan.

“Today we also reflect on what those attacks meant for an entire generation of young Americans who answered the call to serve,” the secretary said. “Since then, thousands have made the ultimate sacrifice, and their absence, too, is felt today and every day.”

The sacrifices of those killed on 9/11 and since never will be forgotten, Mullen said. He noted that a hand-stitched quilt was dedicated to the Pentagon yesterday in honor of the fallen here. The quilt includes pictures of all 184 victims who died at the Pentagon that day.

Mullen called attention to a quote he saw written on the quilt: “In our hearts, we weep for you. In our minds we honor you.”

“Today, those words still comfort us, because today we still weep for those we lost here and in New York and Somerset County [Pennsylvania],” the admiral said. “We honor them with our presence, and certainly with this memorial.”

Mostly, Mullen said, America honors the victims of 9/11, past and present, by their actions in light of such a tragedy.

“Unspeakable carnage was visited upon us here, but it did not conquer us,” he said. “Unimaginable loss was felt by us here, but it does not diminish us.

“Let us weep for what lies behind us,” he continued. “Let us honor what lies in front of us. But let us remember always what lies inside of us.”

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

1st Lt. Todd W. Weaver, 26, of Hampton, Va., died Sept. 9 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

For more information media may contact the Fort Campbell public affairs office at 270- 798-3025.

Defendant Convicted of Lying About Funds Bound for Religious Extremist Militants

Federal Jury Convicts Leader of Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation of Two Felonies

PORTLAND, OR—Last night, a jury in Eugene, Oregon, convicted the former leader of the U.S. Chapter of the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation of two felonies related to the organization’s efforts to send nearly $150,000 to support religious extremist militants in Chechnya. Pirouz Sedaghaty, 52, was convicted of all charges, which included a charge that he filed a false tax return and conspired to file a false tax return as part of Al Haramain’s efforts to hide the trail of money. Both the U.S. Chapter of Al-Haramain and its parent organization in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have been listed as Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organizations by the United States government. The Riyadh-based organization was disbanded in 2004 by the Saudi government.

U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan set sentencing for November 23, 2010. Sedaghaty faces a maximum prison sentence of eight years. Sedaghaty, who had been released on bail prior to and during trial, was taken into federal custody after the verdict.

The $150,000 at issue was wired by an Egyptian citizen from London, England to a bank in Ashland, Oregon, where the U.S. chapter of Al-Haramain was based. From there, the funds were converted into $130,000 in traveler’s checks and a cashier’s check for the balance. The funds were hand carried by fugitive co-defendant Soliman Al-Buthe back to Saudi Arabia. The traveler’s checks were then cashed in for Saudi riyals at the Al Rahji Bank and disappeared, presumably to be smuggled into Chechnya. Al-Buthe deposited the remainder into his personal bank account.

“The lifeblood of terrorism is money—if we can stop the flow of money to violent extremist organizations, we’ll be safer both here and abroad,” said U.S. Attorney Dwight C. Holton. “By lying to the IRS about where this money went, the defendant sought to hide the true destination of this money.” Holton continued, “The jury’s verdict demonstrates once again the critical role—and effectiveness—of civilian criminal courts in the battle against terrorism.”

“The FBI‘s role in battling crime takes many forms,” said Arthur Balizan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon. “Our agents and our partners have to aggressively chase the evidence down whatever path we find… in this case, a trail of cash leading half way around the world. Once again, this case proves that partnerships between law enforcement agencies can bring solid, positive results for the American people.”

"IRS Criminal Investigation will always be there to partner with the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and all other law enforcement in combating those who support violent extremism," said Marcus Williams, the IRS Special Agent in Charge of the Pacific Northwest. "Our agents will not sit idly by while those who attempt to finance terrorism violate the tax laws in order to hide their crimes."

The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Gorder and Chris Cardani. The IRS – Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Holton praised the joint efforts of the Department of Justice, the IRS and the FBI, as well as other agencies that helped prepare the case and obtain evidence from points around the world, including the Departments of State and Treasury.

Provocations Endanger U.S. Troops, Obama Says

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2010 – Provocative acts such as burning Qurans – or even threats of such acts – endanger U.S. troops when they circulate widely on the Internet and rightfully gain the attention of senior leaders, President Barack Obama said today.

“There’s no doubt that when someone goes out of their way to be provocative in ways we know can enflame the passions of over a billion Muslims around the world when we have troops in Muslim countries, that’s a problem,” Obama told reporters during a White House news conference. “It makes the lives of our men and women in uniform much more difficult.”

Asked if he is concerned that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ phone call yesterday to a Florida pastor planning to burn Qurans tomorrow had elevated the issue, Obama said the issue already had attained a high profile.

“I hardly think we were the ones who elevated this story,” he said. “But in the age of the Internet, it is something that can cause us profound damage.” Therefore, he added, leaders rightfully were concerned.

Obama called the burning of a holy book contrary to American values and said he personally hopes it won’t happen. “But I’m also commander in chief,” he said, adding that he was concerned about rioting that erupted in Kabul, Afghanistan, earlier this week when news of the Quran-burning threat spread around the world. “I have an obligation to say this kind of threat puts our young men and women in uniform in harm’s way.”

The president said he hopes Americans will mark the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States tomorrow as a day to “rekindle the spirit of unity and common purpose that we felt” in the days following the attack that killed nearly 3,000 people. Obama is scheduled to speak tomorrow at the Pentagon, one of the three attack sites. Also tomorrow, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, will be at ‘ground zero’ in lower Manhattan and First Lady Michelle Obama and former First Lady Laura Bush are to be in Shanksville, Pa., where an airliner crashed after passengers overpowered hijackers.

Obama noted and reiterated statements from then-President George W. Bush following 9/11 that the United States is not at war with Islam, but rather is fighting a fringe group of extremists who terrorized the country under a false religious banner. He added that “al-Qaida and its allies have killed more Muslims than almost anyone on Earth.”

Obama asked that Americans “hang on to that thing that is best in us: ideas of religious tolerance. … We have to make sure we don’t turn on each other.”

In fact, the president said, Muslims are fighting in Afghanistan in the uniform of the U.S. armed forces. “They’re out there putting their lives on the line for us,” he said. “We’ve got make sure that we are crystal clear for our sakes and their sakes: they are Americans, and we honor their service.

“We don’t differentiate between ‘them’ and ‘us.’ It’s just ‘us,’” the president added. “And tomorrow is an excellent time to reflect on that.”

Obama to Award Medal of Honor to Afghan War Vet

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2010 – The Medal of Honor will be awarded for the first time to a living veteran of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, White House officials announced today in a written statement.

Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta received a phone call from President Barack Obama yesterday, thanking him for his service. Obama informed the infantryman that he would receive the nation’s highest award for his service and extraordinary bravery in battle, the statement said.

The event occurred Oct. 25, 2007, in eastern Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. Giunta was a specialist at the time and rifle team leader. He served in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based out of Vicenza, Italy.

Giunta overcame being separated from his unit, evaded potential enemy captors and risked his life to rescue two fellow soldiers. His unit was divided during the gun battle. One fellow soldier was exposed to enemy fire when Giunta left his cover to pull the soldier to safety.

The enemy continued to engage Giunta and the soldier as they worked to link up with their squad. During the movement, Giunta noticed two insurgents carrying the second soldier, trying to take him captive.

Giunta immediately engaged the combatants, killing one and wounding another. He provided medical aid to the soldier while others provided security. The soldier eventually died of his wounds, but Giunta’s actions prevented him from staying in enemy hands.

The White House statement did not say when Giunta will receive his medal.

Giunta, 25, is a native of Iowa, and enlisted in the Army in November 2003. He deployed twice to Afghanistan, and currently is stationed in Vicenza. He will become the eighth Medal of Honor recipient for actions in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Air Strike Kills Operative Planning Pre-election Attacks

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2010 – A coalition air strike last night killed a senior enemy commander involved in bombing attacks in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul, military officials reported.

Intelligence sources had been tracking Nur Mohammad for weeks, officials said, and he was planning attacks leading up to Afghanistan’s Sept. 18 parliamentary elections.

"This was a very successful strike which stopped a very dangerous individual from conducting further attacks against Afghan civilians and Afghan and coalition forces," said Air Force Col. James Dawkins, director of International Security Assistance Force Joint Command’s Combined Joint Operations Center. "The Afghan people deserve to cast their votes without fear of attacks from the insurgent groups. We are continuously tracking them and taking action before they're able to carry out their plans."

Intelligence sources tracked Nur Mohammed and two armed insurgents to a field in Kabul province’s remote Musahi district. After careful planning to ensure no civilians were present, coalition aircraft conducted a precision air strike on the insurgents.

A follow-on ground security force confirmed that Nur Mohammad and his two associates were dead. The security force also found automatic weapons, grenades and bomb-making materials.

In other news from Afghanistan, an Afghan and coalition security force detained eight suspected insurgents in Zabul province yesterday while in pursuit of a Taliban commander operating in the province’s Qalat and Shah Joy districts. The commander directs, facilitates and personally conducts roadside-bomb attacks on Highway 1, a major route used by civilians. Afghan and coalition forces did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

In Kandahar province yesterday, Afghan and coalition forces detained five insurgents, including a Taliban commander operating in the Arghandab district and Kandahar City. The commander orchestrated and ordered attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and profited from weapons trafficking in the region.

The security force also found weapons, pistol belts, magazines and body armor. They did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

Afghan and coalition forces in Paktia province detained three insurgents yesterday, including a Taliban facilitator for small and medium weapons and bomb-making materials. The commander was also involved in coordinating future attacks in the province. The security force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

Also yesterday, Afghan and coalition forces in Khost province detained several suspected insurgents while in pursuit of a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator responsible for planning and executing indirect-fire and bombing attacks in the Sabari and Musa Khel districts. The security force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

Afghan and coalition security forces conducted more than 40 operations in 12 Afghan provinces in the past week, officials said, leading to the capture of dozens of commanders, facilitators and commissioners for the Taliban and Haqqani networks.

Clear rules of engagement and extreme measures taken to avoid civilian casualties resulted in more than 85 percent of the operations conducted without shots fired. Afghan-led operations resulted in more than 20 targeted individuals captured and three killed.

In the north, a Taliban commissioner for six Takhar province districts was captured in the Darquad district Sept. 4. The commissioner facilitated foreign fighter suicide bombers while leading attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces in the province. Additionally, the security force killed Attallah, the Taliban district commander for Darquad during the same operation.

In the bordering provinces of Khost and Nangarhar, security forces targeted several insurgent leaders, operatives and facilitators. Throughout the week, the assault force detained three Haqqani network leaders and killed Hazrat Muhammad, a Taliban commander who conducted attacks in Nangarhar. Two additional Taliban commanders were also detained.

In other eastern provinces, separate assault forces captured a Taliban bomb-attack operative, facilitator and subcommander, significantly degrading the networks in the region, officials said.

Assault forces in the south over the past week captured eight Taliban commanders and facilitators in Kandahar, Helmand and Zabul provinces. In Kandahar province alone, six Taliban leaders were detained, including the deputy district commander for Dand.

9/11 Memorial Advocate Urges Unity

By Jonathan Stack
Defense Logistics Agency

FORT BELVOIR, Va., Sept. 10, 2010 – As the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks approaches and Americans reflect on that period, they should focus on the outpouring of patriotism and community of Sept. 12 and beyond rather than the tragic events surrounding the actual attacks, the president of the Pentagon Memorial Fund said here yesterday.

In the days and weeks following 9/11, Americans came together, comforted each other, showed their patriotism and flew American flags, Jim Laychak said in a remembrance ceremony at the McNamara Headquarters Complex here. The event was a joint effort of the Defense Logistics Agency and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

“I had relatives and neighbors who all offered comfort and support,” Laychak said. “Thank you for remembering the day that our family will always remember.”

Laychak’s brother Dave, a Department of the Army civilian, was killed in the Pentagon attack. Afterward, Laychak became involved in the funding and design of the Pentagon Memorial to honor the lives lost. The Pentagon Memorial was the first of the three national 9/11 memorials to be dedicated and opened to the public.

“We raised the money; the memorial was built, and it was dedicated two years ago,” he said. “I think the great thing about the memorial is it is focused on not telling people what to think, but to just make them think.”

Everyone who visits the memorial experiences it in a different way, he said. School groups going through tend to stop at the benches dedicated to the school children killed while on a National Geographic-sponsored trip.

“If they are sixth graders, they think about the fact those kids were the same age,” Laychak said. “They all take something different away. They rededicate themselves.”

He said to think about Sept. 12, 2001, because it’s important to note what Americans do differently since the attacks.

“My brother and others are in a much better place,” Laychak said. “For all of us, we go on and try to figure out how we will honor their lives and live our lives differently.”

DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Alan S. Thompson noted that Sept. 11, 2010, marks nine years since the Tuesday morning when America was attacked by terrorists seeking to permanently change the lives of its citizens.

“These attacks caused a great loss of life and great sadness for families, but they didn’t change the American way and what we value,” he said. “Over the last nine years, the United States has moved quickly forward bringing those responsible for these terrorist attacks to justice.”

As the host of the 9/11 remembrance ceremony, Thompson said many of the courageous men and women serving in the military today were just children when the attacks occurred, and these service members are a part of the reason DLA exists, to support them each and every day.

“Many of you have your own stories from that September day – some knew victims of the attacks, some of you were in the Pentagon, others have served on the frontline – we stand here today to honor these American patriots,” Thompson said.

Trainer Sees Positive Trends in Afghan Army

By J.D. Leipold
Army News Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2010 – The quantity and quality of officers, noncommissioned officers and recruits in the Afghan army is rising, the deputy commander of the NATO training mission in Afghanistan said this week.

During a “DoD Live” bloggers roundtable Sept. 8, Army Brig. Gen. Gary Patton cited a visit he’d just made to Afghanistan’s National Military Academy, noting that the class of 2009 came from a field of applicants numbering only 360 in 2005. The 2010 class of freshmen who will graduate in 2014 had more than 3,000 applicants.

“The interest level, the recruiting and so forth has grown tenfold just in the last couple of years. … That’s impressive,” said Patton, who noted that 212 new officers have reported to their assignments. And, he said, these officers were selected by way of a neutral lottery, not by favoritism or other practices.

Patton also said that in one week of training, the army grew by 1,326 new enlisted soldiers, gained an additional 850 new NCOs at various ranks, and brought in another 157 former officers who had graduated from a 10-week integration course for former independent fighters.

Prior to this year, Patton said, no schools existed for military specialties or NCO professional training in the Afghan security forces beyond basic training. That also is changing, as the NATO training mission looks at growing the enabler forces -- the engineering, supply and artillery units. He said an advanced logistics school opened last month, and an artillery school will be up and running in October.

“The branch schools are so important, to add to their basic training and further develop and specialize them in their military skills,” Patton said, drawing a parallel to the way U.S. Army officers, NCOs and soldiers are trained.

Even as the Afghan army continues to grow and become more professional, Patton said, the No. 1 enemy of growth is attrition – soldiers killed or wounded and those who are absent without leave. He said 97 percent of the attrition occurs from troops who go AWOL, and he blames it on a lack of leadership.

He added that a second challenge to attrition lies in generating leaders to fill “significant deficits” within the officer and NCO corps.

“In the NCO corps, we’re 10,500 NCOs short,” Patton said. “We are increasing the number of courses to create NCOs. We believe that we can do some things to reduce that deficit and get pretty close to eliminating that deficit by the end of calendar year 2011.”

The Afghan army also has an officer shortage of 4,500, which the NATO training mission is working to fix by increasing the number of courses available.

Mandatory literacy programs also are growing. Officials expect to have 50,000 Afghan soldiers enrolled in literacy training by December and 100,000 by June, Patton said. This month, he added, a pilot course was introduced to take literacy to basic warrior training. About 86 percent of entry-level recruits in Afghanistan are illiterate, the general noted.

Some 1,400 basic trainees are undergoing 64 hours of literacy training to bring their skills to the first-grade level, Patton said, though that is not sufficient to plot an artillery solution or to conduct a supply inventory as a logistician.

Patton said between basic training and advanced instruction, Afghan soldiers will receive an additional 120 hours of immersion literacy training, which would bring them to the third-grade level and place them at bare minimum standards for advanced training in military occupational specialties such as logistics or engineering.

Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Cpl. John C. Bishop, 25, of Columbus, Ind., died Sept. 8 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th 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 2nd Marine Division public affairs office at 910-449-9925 or http://www.marines.mil/unit/2ndmardiv/Pages/Media/default.aspx .

Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation New Dawn.

They died Sept. 7 at Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered in a shooting incident in Salah ad-Din province. This incident is under investigation.

Killed were:

Sgt. Philip C. Jenkins, 26, of Decatur, Ind.

Pvt. James F. McClamrock, 22, of Huntersville, N.C.

They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

For more information, the media may contact the 25th Infantry Division public affairs office at 808-655-6343.

Soldier to Receive Posthumous Medal of Honor

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2010 – In an Oct. 6 ceremony at the White House, President Barack Obama will present the Medal of Honor to the parents of a soldier who died while saving members of his team and 15 Afghan soldiers.

Army Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller, who was 24 years old when he died, will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for heroic actions in Barikowt, Afghanistan, on Jan. 25, 2008.

“He displayed immeasurable courage and uncommon valor --eventually sacrificing his own life to save the lives of his teammates and 15 Afghanistan National Army soldiers,” White House officials said in a written statement issued today announcing the honor.

Miller’s parents, Phil and Maureen Miller, will join the president at the ceremony, the statement said.

Miller was born on Oct. 14, 1983, in Harrisburg, Pa., and graduated from Wheaton North High School in Wheaton, Ill. Shortly after his family moved to Oviedo, Fla., he enlisted in the Army in August 2003 as a Special Forces candidate. He attended basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Ga., and received his Green Beret in 2005.

He served as a weapons sergeant in Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, based at Fort Bragg, N.C.

His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Special Forces tab, the Ranger tab and the parachute badge.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by brothers Thomas, Martin and Edward and sisters Joanna, Mary, Therese and Patricia.

Pentagon Urges Florida Church to Nix Quran Burning

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2010 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and his top advisors are discussing whether Gates should intervene personally in a Florida pastor’s plans to burn copies of the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today.

“This is obviously of serious concern to us,” Morrell told reporters in a Pentagon news conference. “We believe it could seriously endanger our forces. So this is something we are actively discussing within the administration in terms of taking this unusual measure of calling this pastor and trying to convince him that it is not the right thing to proceed with.”

Several administration officials, including President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, this week urged Terry Jones, pastor of a small evangelical church in Gainesville, Fla., to rethink his plans. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, and Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, former top commander of troops in Iraq, also weighed in, calling for the church to consider the potential risk to troops serving abroad.

A public burning of the Quran would jeopardize the safety of U.S. troops serving around the world, Morrell said, saying that such an act leaves the Defense Department “particularly exposed here, in light of how closely we operate with people of the Muslim faith.”

“I think the message is out there loud and clear,” Morrell continued. “This has the potential to further endanger our forces already in harm’s way in Afghanistan, in Iraq, … frankly, anywhere around the world where we operate in predominantly Muslim countries.”

Pentagon officials want to ensure the burning does not take place. The effect of the church’s actions could cause death and destruction around the world, Morrell said. He noted that an “erroneous” news story in 2005 that alleged defamation to the Quran led to violent protests that left 15 people dead.

Some protests have already begun in Afghanistan at the mere threat of burning the Quran, Morrell noted. Pentagon officials don’t want a repeat of the 2005 incident, which he called “very bloody and violent protests around the world.”

“This is far more than setting a blaze in a disrespectful way to holy books at a small church in Florida,” he said. “The potential ripple effect here is very real. We want to avoid a repeat of [2005].”

Officials also worry that other anti-Islamic groups will follow in the Florida church’s footsteps, Morrell said. The news media, he suggested, have a role in this concern.

“This is the pastor of an obscure small church in Florida who has been given an incredible international platform due, frankly, not to General Petraeus’ comments or any other member of the government’s comments, but because of extraordinary media coverage,” he said.

Gates has yet to comment publicly on the subject, but Morrell said the secretary has “no reluctance” to voice his concern. The secretary, he added, does not take the issue lightly.

“[Gates] is a very active participant in these conversations,” Morrell said. “We have real vital interests at stake here. Rest assured: he is as concerned about this as everyone you have seen on television speaking on this, because he feels a personal responsibility for all of the troops under his command.”

Morrell said a “collective” decision will be made by the administration about if, when and which top official will be the best person to contact the pastor directly.

Gates has not issued guidance to troops serving in Muslim nations, and officials have set no mandates within the Pentagon in terms of actions to take should violent protests erupt in light of a Quran burning, Morrell said.

Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Jesse M. Balthaser, 23, of Columbus, Ohio, died Sept. 4 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.

For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center public affairs office at 760-830-6213.

Maritime Raid Force Recaptures Ship From Pirates

From U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- At approximately 5 a.m. local time, Sept. 9, 24 U.S. Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Maritime Raid Force (MRF) aboard USS Dubuque (LPD 8) operating under Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151), boarded and seized control of Antigua-Barbuda-flagged, German–owned vessel M/V Magellan Star from pirates who attacked and boarded the vessel early Sept 8.

This successful mission by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) secured the safety of the ship's crew and returned control of the ship to the civilian mariners. Nine pirates are currently under control of CTF 151, pending further disposition. This ship's crew has not reported any injuries or casualties. There were no reported injuries from the U.S. Maritime Raid Force.

The CTF-151 flagship, TCG Gökçeada, a Turkish frigate, was the first ship on scene, responding to a distress call received from Magellan Star, Sept. 8. Two additional warships assigned to CTF-151, USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Princeton (CG 59) arrived in the vicinity of the attack to provide support to Gökçeada.

Turkish Navy Rear Adm. Sinan Ertugrul, commander, CTF-151 said, "units from the multi-national maritime force, under Combined Task Force 151, are actively engaged in anti-piracy operations. This regional problem, truly, has global impact and we are completely committed to bringing the disruptive acts of piracy to an end. We have full support of the international community and will continue to do everything possible to bring security to the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin."

CTF-151 is one of three task forces operated by the 25 nation Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). CTF-151 was established in January 2009 in order to deter, disrupt, and suppress piracy, protecting maritime vessels of all nationalities and securing international freedom of navigation.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

Somali Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Piracy in Takeover of Merchant Ship

He and Other Pirates Held Vessel for 71 Days

WASHINGTON—Jama Idle Ibrahim, a/k/a Jaamac Ciidle, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit piracy under the law of nations and conspiracy to use a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Shawn Henry, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, announced. The charges stem from a violent act of piracy in the Gulf of Aden against a merchant vessel, the MV/CEC Future, that began in November 2008.

Ibrahim, 38, of Somalia, entered the guilty plea this morning before the Honorable Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the piracy conspiracy count and 20 years for the firearm conspiracy count. According to the plea agreement, the parties agree that a 25-year sentence is appropriate. No date was set for the sentencing, which will occur before the Honorable Paul L. Friedman.

This represents the first plea for a piracy related offense in the District of Columbia.

The act of piracy against the MV/CEC Future began on or about Nov. 7, 2008. According to a statement of facts presented to the court, Ibrahim and other Somalis were armed with AK 47s, rocket-propelled grenades and handguns when they seized the Danish-owned vessel, which contained cargo belonging to a Texas-based company, McDermott International, Inc. They held the vessel, cargo, and crew members for ransom and forced the crew to anchor in waters off the Somalia coast. During the takeover, additional pirates and their associates boarded the vessel, and the pirates threatened the crew and controlled their movements with their weapons. The pirates stole money, food, and supplies from the ship.

The vessel’s owners paid a sum of money for the release of the ship and its crew on Jan. 14, 2009, and the last Somali pirate left the ship on Jan. 16, 2009—71 days after the vessel and crew were seized.

“Violent acts of piracy on the high seas disrupt international trade and put human life at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “These charges should serve as an unmistakable warning to others thinking of launching pirate attacks. Crimes on open waters in faraway oceans will be punished in an American courtroom.”

“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the FBI’s commitment, with our partners, to protect U.S. trade interests overseas and bring to justice those who wish to harm our companies transacting business via international waters,” said Assistant Director Henry.

The defendant also pled guilty, on Aug. 27, 2010, in the Eastern District of Virginia to charges stemming from another crime on the high seas. In that case, he pled guilty to attacking to plunder a vessel, engaging in an act of violence against persons on a vessel, and using a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges stemmed from an April 10, 2010 incident in which Ibrahim and five other Somalis fired upon the USS Ashland, a United States Navy vessel, in the mistaken belief that it was a merchant ship.

In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Machen and Assistant Director Henry praised the work of the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. The prosecution in the District of Columbia is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brenda J. Johnson from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, National Security Section, and Trial Attorney Jennifer E. Levy from the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

Forces in Afghanistan Detain Suspected Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2010 – Partnered Afghan and coalition security forces detained numerous suspected insurgents in recent operations, military officials reported.

Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected insurgents in Paktia province’s Zurmat district yesterday while in pursuit of an insurgent commander with ties to both Taliban and Haqqani terrorist network senior leaders in Pakistan.

The commander's cell plants roadside bombs and conducts attacks on Afghan government officials and coalition forces.

Several weapons, a rocket-propelled grenade, a pistol belt and military equipment were found at the scene. The security force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

In Wardak province’s Nerkh district yesterday, Afghan and coalition forces detained two suspected insurgents while in pursuit of a Taliban commander who operates mainly in the northern part of the province. The security force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

Also yesterday, an Afghan and coalition security force captured a roadside-bomb cell leader operating in Zabul province’s Qalat district, facilitating the movement of weapons and supplies, and directing attacks on Highway 1, a major route used by civilians. Afghan and coalition forces did not fire their weapons during the operation.

In Kunduz province’s Kunduz district yesterday, Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected insurgents while in pursuit of a Taliban subcommander who recently returned from Pakistan and still maintains connections to his Pakistani-based leadership. The subcommander also is involved in organizing suicide attacks using foreign fighters. The security force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected insurgents in Khost province’s Sabari district yesterday while in pursuit of a facilitator responsible for coordinating the movement of Haqqani operatives and supplies. The facilitator is in direct contact with senior Haqqani leadership in Pakistan. The security force found multiple weapons, magazines and a grenade at the scene. They did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

Afghan and coalition forces detained several insurgents in Helmand province’s Nad-e Ali district last night while in pursuit of a Taliban commander who is a key facilitator of weapons and supplies for other Taliban commanders operating in northern Helmand. The security force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

Also in Helmand, multiple intelligence reports and local tips led to a combined Afghan and coalition force operation resulting in the detention of two insurgents yesterday.

The combined force targeted a compound linked to two Taliban commanders prominent in an insurgent facilitation-and-finance network based in Band-e-Timor in Maiwand, but who have links throughout Helmand and Kandahar provinces.

A search of the targeted compound yielded more than 13 pounds of wet opium and an assault rifle.

In another operation driven by intelligence reports and local tips, a combined Afghan and coalition security force operation in Wardak province yesterday resulted in the detention of two insurgents.

The initial target was the Taliban shadow provincial police chief, who facilitates suicide bombers in the area and is responsible for the majority of roadside-bomb attacks in the northern part of the province.

In other news, Afghan and coalition forces are searching for an Afghan Public Protection Program commander who reportedly was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Wardak’s Maidan Shahr district yesterday. The Public Protection Program, led by the national government, is designed to have Afghan citizens take charge of securing their villages against militants who use them as safe havens.

‘New Dawn’ Soldiers Arrive in Iraq

Compiled from U.S. Forces Iraq and U.S. Division South News Releases

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2010 – As the first U.S. soldiers to deploy exclusively for Operation New Dawn have arrived in southern Iraq, officials are investigating a shooting incident that left two American soldiers dead and nine others wounded in Iraq’s Salahuddin province yesterday.

The lead elements of 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment from Fort Hood, Texas, have arrived in Iraq and are preparing for their new mission. The regiment previously deployed three times during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Known as the “Brave Rifles,” the combat-capable, brigade-sized unit will continue the mission of advising and assisting Iraqi security forces in five southern provinces. The unit replaces the 3rd Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade, one of the first heavy brigade combat teams configured for an advise-and-assist role. The 3rd Brigade deployed from Fort Benning, Ga., a year ago under Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Brave Rifles will operate under the 1st Infantry Division headquarters as part of U.S. Division South. The unit will advise and assist Iraqi army, federal police and border guard units, as well as State Department-led teams.

Operation New Dawn represents a change in the mission of U.S. forces in Iraq from combat missions conducted by U.S. forces to stability operations conducted by Iraqi security forces with U.S. advice and assistance.

Meanwhile, U.S. Forces Iraq officials have begun an investigation into the Salahuddin shooting, in which an Iraqi soldier also was killed.

A preliminary review of reports from the scene indicates the attack was deliberate, officials said, adding that the detailed investigation will clarify the facts and actions of all involved.

Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, a U.S. Forces Iraq spokesman, expressed condolences to the families of the soldiers killed or wounded.

"Though this incident is tragic and our first concern is for our comrades and their families,” he added, “it doesn't affect our strong commitment to the mission of advising and assisting the Iraqi security forces as they continue to sacrifice each day for security and stability in their nation. We stand firmly beside them."

Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Cpl. Philip G. E. Charte, 22, of Goffstown, N.H., died Sept. 7 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd 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 2nd Marine Division public affairs office at 910-449-9925 or http://www.marines.mil/unit/2ndmardiv/Pages/Media/default.aspx .

Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Ross S. Carver, 21, of Rocky Point, N.C., died Sept. 3 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd 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 2nd Marine Division public affairs office at 910-449-9925 or http://www.marines.mil/unit/2ndmardiv/Pages/Media/default.aspx .

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Capt. Jason T. McMahon, 35, of Mulvane, Kan., died Sept. 5 in Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire in Jalalabad. He was assigned to the 184th Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 52nd Ordnance Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.

For more information media may contact the Fort Campbell public affairs office at 270-798-3025.

Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Diego M. Montoya, 20, of San Antonio, Texas, died Sept. 2 in Laghman province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire. He was assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

For more information media may contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at 254-287-9993; after hours 254-287-2520; or via the Internet at Fort Hood’s news center online at http://www.hood.army.mil/news.paos.aspx .

Officials in Afghanistan Detail Recent Operations

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2010 – International Security Assistance Force Joint Command officials have provided details of numerous recent operations in Afghanistan.

In Farah province:

-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents yesterday in an operation launched after an insurgent bomb attack that injured five civilians, three of them children, the day before. About 45 pounds of opium products and a number of bomb components were found during the operation.

In Helmand province:

-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained more than 10 suspected insurgents yesterday while pursuing the Taliban shadow governor of the province’s Musa Qalah district. The shadow governor facilitates and leads attacks and handles funding for Taliban operations in his area. The security force discovered multiple weapons, drugs, Taliban paraphernalia and Pakistani money at the scene. As the security force was leaving the target area, coalition aircraft received small-arms fire from the ground. The aircraft returned fire, ensuring the aircraft and occupants left the area safely. The ground force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the operation.

-- Multiple intelligence sources and tips from local residents led to a combined Afghan and coalition operation that resulted in the detention of several insurgents in the central part of the province yesterday. The target of the operation was a Taliban leader who was directly involved with planning, coordinating and conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and is known to prepare bombs for insurgent groups in the surrounding area. He also provides suicide bombers and vests for other local Taliban commanders. Four insurgents were killed during the operation when they attempted to engage Afghan and coalition forces. The combined force protected 12 women and 33 children and arrested several suspects found hiding among them.

-- Afghan commandos, assisted by members of two Marine Corps special operations teams, found and destroyed a large drug and weapons cache in the Sangin district Sept. 2. Coalition forces were attempting to interact with the local populace when they received sporadic small-arms and machine-gun fire near the village of Banuzai. While seeking cover, troops discovered an operational drug processing lab. Upon suppression of the insurgent force and a detailed search of the facility, Afghan forces recovered 90 pounds of opium, two assault rifles with 200 rounds of ammunition, two bolt-action rifles, a machine gun with 200 rounds and five grenades.

-- Several Afghan civilians fought back against insurgents who attacked worshipers in a mosque near Marja on Aug. 31, killing two and wounding another. Following the attack, Marja elders rallied citizens to pursue the insurgents. During the pursuit, the elders informed Afghan National Civil Order Police forces of the incident, and the commander quickly launched his forces. The citizen and ANCOP force located the insurgents and engaged them with small-arms fire as a small ISAF unit established perimeter security. The ANCOP then swept the area and detained four of the insurgents suspected of conducting the mosque attack.

In Kandahar province:

-- Several suspected insurgents were detained yesterday during an Afghan-led operation in pursuit of the Taliban district commander for Dand. The commander, who profits from weapons trafficking and coordinates attacks, presides over an illegal shadow court that exercises capital punishment. Acting on intelligence tips, Afghan and coalition forces went to a compound in the Panjwai district to search for the commander and detained the suspected insurgents after interviewing the residents. Coalition aircraft received heavy fire from multiple insurgent locations on the ground throughout the operation. Coalition aircraft responded with direct fire and by conducting precision air strikes to eliminate the enemy threat.

-- Afghan National Civil Order Police partnered with soldiers from Special Operations Task Force South to find three roadside bombs Sept. 1 in the Panjwai district.

-- ISAF officials confirmed the Sept. 3 capture of a Taliban weapons facilitator.

-- Afghan commandos with the 3rd Commando Kandak, advised and assisted by coalition forces, found and destroyed multiple bomb-making materials in a remote region of the Shah Wali Kot district, Kandahar province Sept. 2.

-- ISAF officials confirmed the Sept. 2 capture by a combined Afghan-coalition force of Nawah-ye Barakzai, an acting Taliban district commander who took the position after Afghan and coalition forces captured several members of his network since May. The assault force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban commander Sept. 3. He coordinated and participated in attacks in Kandahar City and the Arghandab district. The assault force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

In Khost province:

-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents yesterday in the Sabari district in their continued pursuit of a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator responsible for roadside-bomb components and weapons used in indirect-fire attacks. The assault force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

-- ISAF officials confirmed the capture during a Sept. 2 combined operation of a Haqqani subcommander responsible for coordinating bombing attacks against Afghan civilians and Afghan and coalition forces, The security force also detained three of his associates. The assault force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Haqqani subcommander and two associates in the Serkay in Bak district Sept. 4. The subcommander leads a cell conducting bombing and indirect-fire attacks against Afghan civilians, government offices and Afghan and coalition forces. The assault force discovered and destroyed several firearms, multiple grenades, and a cache of homemade explosives and ammunition at the scene. They did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents in the Sabari district Sept. 3 in their pursuit of a Haqqani facilitator for bomb components and weapons. The security force also discovered multiple grenades and weapons at the scene. They did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

In Nangahar province:

-- Based on intelligence tips, an Afghan and coalition force killed a Taliban military commander for the Khugyani district and another insurgent during an operation over the night of Sept. 5. The commander, Hazrat Muhammad, was killed during the operation. As the combined force approached the targeted compound, two armed individuals moved to a nearby tree line. The assault force attempted to interdict them, but the two insurgents engaged the force, which returned fire, killing Hazrat Muhammad and another insurgent. During an inspection of the area, the assault force found an automatic weapon, multiple magazines of ammunition and a pistol with the insurgents. The security force detained three additional suspected insurgents for further questioning and protected women and children throughout the search.

In Paktia province:

-- In an intelligence-based Sept. 4 operation in the Lewan in Gardez district, an Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban commander linked to device bombing attack that killed four U.S. soldiers on Highway 1 last week and a facilitator who also was involved in bombing attacks. Two of their associates also were detained. The assault force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban facilitator for a bombing cell operating in Gardez district in an intelligence-based Sept. 3 operation. The security force found a pistol and a grenade at the scene. They did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

In Paktika province:

-- An Afghan and coalition security force in the Sharana district acting on intelligence reports detained two suspected insurgents Sept. 5, including a Taliban bombing operative who also facilitates and conducts machine-gun and small-arms attacks against coalition convoys. The assault force did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force in the Yahya Khel district detained several suspected insurgents while in pursuit of a Taliban subcommander who conducts attacks against Afghan government officials and Afghan and coalition forces. He is also involved in facilitating bombs and weapons. An insurgent armed with an assault rifle and grenades was killed after he threatened the force as it approached the first targeted compound. Multiple insurgents who ran from the compound also were killed when they threatened the force. A suspected insurgent was detained at a second compound. The assault force protected women and children throughout the search.

In Takhar province:

-- ISAF officials confirmed that Attallah, the Taliban commander for the Darquad district, was killed during a Sept. 3 Afghan and coalition force operation. Attallah maintained contact with senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leaders in Pakistan and in Afghanistan’s Takhar, Kunduz and Baghlan provinces. He had stepped in as the deputy shadow governor for Takhar province after the former deputy, Muhammad Amin, was killed in a precision air strike the day before. The operation also resulted in the capture of the Taliban military commissioner for six Takhar districts.

In Uruzgan province:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force detained 13 Taliban insurgents yesterday. After arrival at a suspected Taliban insurgent compound, the force was met with small-arms fire by a single insurgent. Afghan and coalition forces returned fire, killing the attacker. Upon entering the compound, they detained nine suspected insurgents. The combined force also tracked four suspected insurgents leaving the targeted compound just prior to their arrival and followed them to a nearby compound, where they were detained.

In Wardak province

-- In a Sept. 5 operation, an Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected Taliban operatives. Although the target of the operation, a known explosives expert and bomb maker, was not at the site, the force did detain several suspected insurgents, including one of the target's top lieutenants. When the combined force arrived at the objective site, they saw people running from the compound and followed them into a nearby orchard, where successive fire fights ensued over an extended period of time. The combined force’s leaders chose not to call in air support, as civilians were in the area. As the fire fights subsided, the combined force moved back to the original targeted compound, made several searches and detained three suspected insurgents. The force also found 50 pounds of homemade explosives, two rocket fuses and 1,000 meters of copper command wire for homemade bombs.

In Zabul province:

-- ISAF officials today confirmed the capture of a Taliban subcommander who facilitated and coordinated roadside-bomb attacks on Highway 1. He was captured during a Sept. 2 combined operation. The assault force did not fire their weapons, and protected women and children throughout the search.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents Sept. 5 while in pursuit of an insurgent cell leader operating in the Qalat district. The targeted individual facilitates the movement of weapons and supplies and directs roadside-bomb attacks on Highway 1, a major route used by civilians. Afghan and coalition forces did not fire their weapons, and they protected women and children throughout the search.

In other news from Afghanistan, a team composed of representatives from the Afghan interior and defense ministries and ISAF officials determined that ISAF strikes inadvertently caused civilian casualties ISAF strikes during a Sept. 1 operation in Helmand province’s Musa Qalah district.

"It is regrettable that insurgents continue to place civilians in harm's way," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Timothy M. Zadalis, ISAF Joint Command director of plans and projects and the team lead. "We regret the loss of life and injuries to our civilian partners. Our first objective is to protect the people of Afghanistan, and in this case we failed."

During a dismounted patrol, partnered Afghan and coalition forces came under heavy small-arms and machine-gun fire. The patrol was pinned down and unable to withdraw. The insurgent firing position was positively identified, and additional fire support was requested.

The insurgents were suppressed, and following the engagement, overhead aircraft observed two or three wounded individuals being removed by insurgents to a nearby compound. The assessment team confirmed an immediate site assessment by the partnered force that revealed civilians were in the compound at the time of the insurgent attack.

Meanwhile, insurgents continue to inflict civilian casualties and target government officials.

The governor of Baghlan province’s Nahrin district and his driver reportedly were killed by unknown gunmen yesterday.

In Kunar province’s Darah-ye Pech district yesterday, four Afghan government workers reportedly were kidnapped by about 15 suspected insurgents.

Also yesterday, three Afghan children were killed and five more were wounded by insurgents in an attack on a coalition combat outpost in the Yahya Khel district of Paktika province.

Coalition forces took the eight wounded children by air to coalition medical facilities for treatment. Three of the children subsequently died.

On Sept. 5, two children were brought to Forward Operating Base Farah for treatment after a roadside bomb detonated in a bazaar in Farah province’s Bala Boluk district. Several other people were wounded in the explosion, which originated from homemade explosives placed under an ice stand. The children, ages 8 and 12, were treated at the base, and the other wounded people were treated at a local hospital.

Two Afghan civilians were killed and another was wounded in a vehicle-borne bomb attack on an Afghan police station in the Khash Rod district of Nimroz province Sept. 5. The wounded civilian was transported to a nearby ISAF medical facility for treatment.

In the Darah-ye Pech district of Kunar province Sept. 5, about 13 Afghan civilians were wounded after insurgents attacked a coalition force convoy. Coalition force medics treated the wounded Afghans at a nearby ISAF medical facility, and they are now receiving follow-on care at a local Afghan hospital.

On Sept. 4, several people were killed when a vehicle-borne bomb detonated in Kunduz province.

Also on Sept. 4, two Afghan civilians were wounded by a roadside bomb detonation in the Sharan district of Paktika province. The bomb exploded in front of an ISAF provincial reconstruction team convoy. A medic assessed the civilians’ injuries, and they were taken to a local hospital in a private vehicle.

Flags lowered to half-staff in Wisconsin today for Army Spc. Chad Coleman

Flags at Wisconsin National Guard armories, air bases and other facilities across the state will fly at half-staff today (Sept. 7) in honor of U.S. Army Spc. Chad Coleman, who lost his life while serving his country in Operation Enduring Freedom. The Guard will render these honors in accordance with an executive order issued by Gov. Jim Doyle.

EXECUTIVE ORDER # 325 reads:

Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Specialist Chad Coleman of the United States Army Who Lost His Life While Serving His Country in Operation Enduring Freedom.


WHEREAS, on August 30, 2010, Specialist Chad Coleman, who was assigned to 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ken., died while serving his country in Afghanistan; and


WHEREAS, Specialist Chad Coleman provided faithful and honorable service to the people of the State of Wisconsin and the people of the United States; and


WHEREAS, the people of Wisconsin mourn the death of Specialist Chad Coleman; and


WHEREAS, a memorial service will be held for Specialist Chad Coleman on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010;


NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM DOYLE, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by Federal and State law, do hereby order that the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Wisconsin shall be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations of the State of Wisconsin equipped with such flags beginning at sunrise on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, and ending at sundown on that date.

All Wisconsin state government facilities are covered by the governor’s order and a 2007 amendment to the U.S. Flag Code now requires all federal facilities in Wisconsin to comply. Other government agencies, businesses and private residences with flagpoles may also honor Spc. Chad Coleman by lowering their U.S. and Wisconsin state flags to half-staff during the daylight hours on Sept. 7.

Mullen Praises Turkey’s Leadership, Assistance

By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service

ANKARA, Turkey, Sept. 4, 2010 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff today praised Turkey for its leadership in the region and for its assistance with efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, and expressed the hope for an even stronger U.S.-Turkish military relationship in the years ahead.

During a news conference here, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen noted that he last visited Turkey two years ago.

“Certainly much has changed since then,” he said, “not least of which has been the end of the American combat mission in Iraq and the surge of United States forces into Afghanistan – two missions for which and in which Turkey’s assistance has been vital. And so, I felt it was important to return.”

Another reason for his visit, the chairman said, was to meet with Gen. Isik Kosaner, Turkey’s new chief of the General Staff, “to congratulate him personally on the assumption of his new duties and reaffirm the commitment of the United States military to continuing – indeed, to strengthening – our already close working relationship.

“I wanted also to thank him for Turkey’s leadership in the region,” Mullen continued, “and for the exemplary way in which this military has contributed to security and stability across a range of NATO missions, from Kosovo to Bosnia and Herzegovina, all the way to Afghanistan.”

The admiral said he arrived here yesterday directly from a visit to Afghanistan, and that few things were more evident and more appreciated by commanders there than Turkish contributions in command of allied troops around the Afghan capital of Kabul and in training Afghan security forces, and in leading two provincial reconstruction teams.

“In other words, I flew here to make sure that he knew that I knew how much his forces are doing,” Mullen said, “and that I deeply appreciate the service they are rendering and the sacrifices they are making.”

The chairman said he didn’t come here to press Turkey to do more in Afghanistan, but he added that any additional contributions Turkish officials feel comfortable in providing would be welcome at a NATO force-generation conference later this month.

Mullen noted “with gratitude” that although Turkey did not support the United Nations effort to impose sanctions in Iran for its nuclear program, the Turkish government will enforce the sanctions that were passed.

The chairman flatly dismissed speculation that he’d come here to negotiate an agreement to transport weapons and heavy equipment coming out of Iraq through Turkish territory.

“Though we certainly rely on Turkey’s infrastructure to move some of our equipment in and out of our areas of operations,” he said, “we do not transport weapons through Turkey, nor do we intend to in the future.

“Reports or suggestions to the contrary are simply false and completely without merit,” he added.

Turkey and the United States not only are allies, Mullen said, they are also friends, and both countries have suffered at the hands of terrorists. He expressed condolences to Turkey for losses inflicted by the terror group known as the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and reaffirmed the U.S. military’s commitment to help Turkey fight the terrorists.

Both nations share a desire for security and stability in Afghanistan and throughout the region, the admiral noted. “It is to that end we must work harder, and to that end we must build an even stronger relationship than the one we enjoy today,” he said.

In addition to his meeting with Kosaner, Mullen’s visit to the Turkish capital also included meetings with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul.

General Seeks to Build Professional, Sustainable Afghan Forces

By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 3, 2010 – Building Afghan security forces that are capable, professional and sustainable is going to take a long time, but also is key to long-term success, the general who leads the NATO training mission in Afghanistan said here today.

Army Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV explained the effort to reporters traveling with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, while Mullen was in a series of private meetings at the U.S. Embassy and the International Security Assistance Force headquarters.

When he stood up the NATO training mission here in November, Caldwell said, the enormity of the challenge was quite evident. No Afghan army or police training commands existed. The only standard for graduation from basic training was starting the course and still being there on the last day of training. Most police received no real training. The ethos that guides professional military forces was absent in the Afghan security forces. Recruiting was low, and attrition was high.

In fact, Caldwell said, the Afghan army had “negative growth,” recruiting only 800 new soldiers in September 2009 while losing more than 2,000 through attrition.

With a target today of growing the Afghan security forces by 55,000 members to 306,000 by December 2011, Caldwell said, the current attrition rates indicate that 141,000 new members must be recruited and trained. If attrition improves, he added, the recruiting requirement would ease accordingly.

The focus of the NATO training mission for its first 10 months has been to turn those trends around and lay a foundation for the professionalization of Afghanistan’s security forces, the general said. The Afghan army now has had a training command for six months.

“It’s going like gangbusters,” Caldwell said. “We’ve got the right advisors and they’re working with them. They’ve appointed a good Afghan commander, and they are taking control of the training for their Afghan army.” A training command for Afghan police was activated in May, and a commander has just been appointed, Caldwell said, and the Afghan police now have a good code of conduct.

Afghan police have a reputation for being corrupt, Caldwell said, citing reports of police officers shaking people down for money, using tactics such as setting up illegal checkpoints and charging people to pass through them. When he found out that police officers were being paid far less than a living wage, he said, he understood how that could happen.

“We had set the conditions so that a policeman … was not even able to make a basic minimum wage by serving his country,” Caldwell said. Now that police make a decent wage on a par with their army counterparts, he added, the incentive for corruption diminishes and police have a sense they are part of a professional force that is a viable career option.

Soldiers and police now can receive additional incentive pay for serving in dangerous areas, as well as longevity pay raises that reward them for continuing to serve.

And trainees now must meet standards. The weapon qualification rate for Afghan soldiers and police at the end of basic training is now 97 percent. “That’s just as good as the U.S. Army,” Caldwell noted. The 3 percent who don’t qualify at that point receive more training and then qualify.

Leader development is a limiting factor in building professional forces, Caldwell said, and the training mission has taken on that issue as a top priority, greatly increasing capacity to train soldiers and police officers to become effective leaders.

Another limiting factor is literacy, the general said, noting that 80 percent of the recruits can’t read or write. “It’s real hard, especially for us, to comprehend that they couldn’t even write their names and they didn’t know any numbers,” he said. Weapons accountability is impossible, he noted as an example, when the soldiers or police can’t read the serial number and know whether they have the right weapon. If a recruit can’t read the list of equipment he was supposed to be issued, the general added, he won’t know if the person issuing the equipment is holding equipment back to sell on the black market, so the crime goes undetected.

When the NATO training mission stood up in November, some Afghan recruits were enrolled in optional literacy programs, but no mandatory programs existed, Caldwell said. Now, 23,000 members of Afghanistan’s security forces are in mandatory literacy training designed to give them a third-grade reading level. That number will be 50,000 in December, he added, and is expected to be 100,000 on any given day by June.

In the effort to move Afghan forces toward self-sufficiency, Caldwell noted, a basic level of literacy becomes especially important as training goes beyond infantry skills and starts to include more specialized areas such as transportation, maintenance and medical disciplines.

Another challenge is finding qualified Afghan instructors, the general said. Hiring only Afghan instructors, he explained, is critical to building the enduring capability that is key to long-term success.

And training doesn’t end when Afghan units finish their formal training, Caldwell said. The vast majority of operations now involve Afghan units working alongside ISAF partners, so their training continues as they learn on the job from professional forces.

Though the progress has been considerable in 10 months, Caldwell said, it will be a long time before the Afghan security forces have matured to the point at which they can see to all of their training, recruiting and retention needs without help and field professional and sustainable forces on their own.

“Our mission is not one that is done by next summer, or even next December,” Caldwell said. The need to continue growing and professionalizing the Afghan forces will remain for some time, he added.

Petraeus Explains Afghanistan Strategy

By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 3, 2010 – Progress in Afghanistan has been faster than expected in some respects, and not as far along in others, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus said here today.

Petraeus, the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, spoke to reporters traveling with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, before attending a working lunch with the admiral.

The progress achieved so far in Afghanistan is “about standard for any one of these kinds of deliberate campaigns,” Petraeus said.

The current Afghanistan strategy has been in the making since 2008, the general said, when a U.S. Central Command assessment and subsequent policy reviews revealed that factors he called “the inputs” of the Afghanistan mission weren’t right. New organizational structures and some new leaders were necessary, he explained, and concepts and approaches needed refinement. And, he added, insufficient resources had been applied to the effort at that time.

Petraeus – who commanded U.S. Central Command before coming to Afghanistan -- credited his predecessor, Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, with having “a huge amount to do with getting the inputs right, obviously.”

After taking command in Afghanistan in July, Petraeus said he looked at various plans and directives, including a controversial tactical directive that McChrystal had put in place to minimize the likelihood of civilian casualties.

“Some of these I’ve revised to varying degrees,” Petraeus said. “I put out my own counterinsurgency guidance, and we refined the tactical directive. The most significant change to the tactical directive, by the way, was to state in it that no one could add further restrictions to what was in that directive.

“That was what the biggest concern was,” he continued. “I think the directive was fundamentally sound. We made some tweaks to it based on requests from commanders in some of the classified portions … that were not huge.”

The problem, the general said, was that extra restrictions had been added in a handful of units as the directive made its way down the chain of command. Though the practice wasn’t widespread, he added, a major mythology grew from it that the directive was tying forces’ hands behind their backs.

“We have to - absolutely must – remain committed to reducing the loss of innocent civilian life to an absolute minimum in the conduct of our operations,” he said. “In fact, [the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan] actually recognized recently in a report that even as we have tripled the number of U.S. forces on the ground, the number of civilian casualties has gone down by 30 percent, which is a pretty extraordinary achievement, frankly, and something we must stay committed to.”

The biggest issue, Petraeus said, was the resources devoted to the effort in Afghanistan. In January 2009, he said, U.S. forces on the ground in Afghanistan numbered roughly 30,000, and that number soon will be more than 98,000. The number of civilians has been tripled, he added, and funding has been provided for 100,000 additional Afghan security forces.

“What that is enabling us to do for the first time here is to carry out a comprehensive civil-military counterinsurgency campaign,” Petraeus said.

Thanks to more International Security Assistance Force troops and Afghan special operations forces and enablers, as well as an effort that started last fall to provide the infrastructure to accommodate them, special mission element forces now are operating at a high tempo, Petraeus said. For example, he said, one of three special operations units conducted eight operations over the previous 24 hours, killing one targeted individual and detaining three others, with confirmation still pending on whether four other people detained were among the targets of the operations.

By comparison, Petraeus said, special operations units during the height of the troop surge in Iraq conducted about 10 intelligence-driven targeted operations per day. In Afghanistan today, 30 such operations take place on any given day.

ISAF and Afghan special operations forces have conducted more than 4,000 kinetic operations over the last 90 days, the general said, resulting in 235 insurgent leaders killed or captured and 1,066 rank-and-file insurgents killed and 1,673 captured.

But while military action is necessary, the general said, it’s not sufficient for success. Over the same period, he said, the special operations forces also have conducted more than 1,200 “population-centric” operations, such as key leader engagements and medical exercises, in Afghan communities.

Without a strategy that calls for first clearing an area of insurgents and then holding and rebuilding that area, the general said, the insurgents simply reclaim the area as a safe haven.

“So that’s where conventional forces come in, of course,” Petraeus said, “and the substantial increase in those and in Afghan forces has been of enormous help.”

But conducting a security campaign that seeks to take safe havens and sanctuaries from the enemy, he said, means the enemy will fight back and violence goes up.

“Then it takes a while before you get sufficient security as a foundation for the establishment of governance where before it didn’t exist,” Petraeus said, “and that was the case in many of the central districts of Helmand province. And then, of course, that has to be solidified and some economic progress has to take place before you actually have some popular confidence that all of this is going to prove sustainable.”

Coalition, Afghan Forces Rescue Prisoners

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2010 – A combined Afghan-coalition force was pursuing a senior Taliban leader yesterday when it found and rescued seven imprisoned Afghan citizens during an operation in Helmand province, military officials said.

The target of the operation was a Taliban commander believed to be responsible for raising and distributing funds collected from opium production and extorting money from local Afghan citizens. During the search for the target, seven shackled prisoners were found by the patrol. The prisoners were taken to an International Security Assistance Force base where they received medical screening and debriefing. Officials from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior and ISAF are identifying the men and determining their status.

Before they entered the compound, the patrol made their presence known, requesting that anyone inside exit the compound. Two insurgents attempted to engage the force, and were killed. After searching the compound, the prisoners were found along with several improvised explosive devices, two AK-47 rifles, four 105 mm mortar rounds and a large amount of homemade explosives. The weapons were destroyed in place.

In other Sept. 2 news:

-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained several insurgents in Kandahar province during pursuit of a Taliban acting district commander. The targeted individual took the position after Afghan and coalition forces captured several members of this network starting in May. The security force targeted a series of compounds in Kandahar City to search for the commander. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the buildings peacefully and then cleared the compounds. After questioning residents, the security force detained seven suspected insurgents. The assault force did not fire their weapons and protected the women and children during the search.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban subcommander in Ghazni province. The subcommander's cell conducts ambushes, improvised explosive device attacks, and was linked to an indirect-fire attack against Forward Operating Base Ghazni in June. Intelligence tips led the security force to a compound outside the village of Arezo in Ghazni district. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker calling for all occupants to exit the buildings and then cleared the compound. After questioning the residents, the security force detained the subcommander. The security force found multiple weapons at the scene. The assault force did not fire their weapons and protected the women and children during the search.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained several insurgents in Qalat district, Zabul province, while in pursuit of a Taliban subcommander who is believed to have facilitated and coordinated IED attacks on Highway 1. The security force targeted a series of compounds off Highway 1 in the village of Khar Juy in pursuit of the subcommander. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker calling for all occupants to exit the buildings and then cleared the compounds. After questioning the residents, the security force detained four insurgents. Multiple weapons were found at the scene. The assault force did not fire their weapons during the operation and protected the women and children during the search.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained several insurgents in Khost province while in pursuit of a Haqqani network subcommander believed to be responsible for coordinating IED attacks that often harm innocent civilians. Intelligence tips led the security force to a compound in the village of Shinkay in Khost district. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker calling for all occupants to exit the buildings and then cleared the compounds. After questioning the residents, the security force detained the insurgents. The assault force did not fire their weapons and protected the women and children during the search.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained several insurgents in Helmand province, including a Taliban military commander believed to have direct ties to Taliban senior leadership based in Pakistan. The security force targeted a compound southeast of the village of Juy-e Shahi in Lashkar Gah district in pursuit of the commander. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker calling for all occupants to exit the buildings and then cleared the compound. After questioning the residents, the security force detained the commander and several of his associates. The assault force did not fire their weapons during the operation and protected the women and children during the search.

-- An Afghan parliamentary candidate and one other Afghan civilian were wounded following a grenade attack at the governor's compound in Ghazni City. Moulana Abdul Rahman, the parliamentary candidate, was wounded when a grenade exploded near his office. Haji Gull, an anesthesiology technician at Ghazni Hospital, also was injured in the blast. The two were initially taken to Ghazni Hospital to receive medical treatment, but later were transferred to Forward Operating Base Ghazni for further treatment. "These senseless attacks will not derail the upcoming elections and will not dissuade Afghan citizens from choosing to serve their country by seeking an elected position within the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan," said Army Brig. Gen. Steve Townsend, deputy commanding general for Regional Command-East and Combined Joint Task Force-101. The Afghan National Police is investigating the incident.

Trainers Build New Afghan Health System

By Judith Snyderman
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2010 – For hands-on medical professionals it is very difficult to stand back and watch others deliver care. Yet, that is precisely the job of some 250 members of a nine-month-old medical training advisory group serving in Afghanistan.

“That is our pathway to transition here, to help the Afghans perform and to increase their capability, not by doing [it] for them, but rather by advising them and stepping back,” U.S. Air Force Col. (Dr.) Schuyler K. Geller said during a Sept. 2 “DoD Live” Bloggers Roundtable discussion.

Geller is the command surgeon and commander of the medical training advisory group at Camp Eggers, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan.

Geller said one of first things incoming advisors get is a medical mentor’s manual that describes their role, “not as a clinician, not as a nurse, not as a technician, but as a trainer.”

He said mentors are often embedded in Afghan army and police hospitals, and at regional hospitals. The largest facility and the premier training institution for Afghan nurses, doctors and combat medics, Geller said, is the 400-bed National Military Hospital in Kabul.

The time and effort required to become proficient in medical fields is intensive, Geller said. For instance, he said, “the physicians’ training program in Afghanistan takes a 12th-grader and puts them through a seven-year training program.”

Geller said officials are working to recruit more Afghan doctors, nurses and other medical specialists to bolster the country’s medical force.

He pointed out that the goal is not just to train Afghan health care workers, but to train them as instructors who will be able to carry on and sustain the effort independently. Geller cited impressive progress on that front.

“We will be able to transition in October the combat medic training, the medical officer's basic training, the medical sergeants or NCO training program and the logistics training program, entirely over to the Afghans,” he said.

Geller said he anticipates completing the transition of the remainder of nursing, physician assistants, biomedical maintenance, preventative medicine, lab, X-ray and other training programs by 2013.

Progress in Kandahar Will be Gradual, General Says

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

COMBAT OUTPOST SERANJAY, Afghanistan, Sept. 3, 2010 – Progress in Afghanistan must be gradual and slow to ensure it becomes permanent, Army Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez said here today.

Rodriguez, the chief of NATO’s International Joint Command, visited this outpost southwest of Kandahar with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. The secretary is in Afghanistan to learn the ground truth about operations here and to speak with the men and women on the sharp end of the spear.

Kandahar and the Central Helmand River Valley are key areas to the coalition and to the Afghan government. This is key territory for the Taliban and their terrorist allies, and they are fighting hard to recover lost ground, Rodriguez said.

Afghan security forces are stepping up and taking the lead in many areas, but the local police especially remain a work in progress, the general said. The main battle today is for Kandahar and the roads into and out of the city.

Kandahar City is divided up into 17 precincts with each built around a police security station. American military police are partnered with these units 24/7. The police security stations are becoming a centerpiece for normal life. Markets and schools have sprung up under the protection of these facilities.

The Afghan forces – in coordination with U.S. and international partners – have set up area checkpoints to discourage smuggling and to protect the Afghan people. “All this is to provide better security for the people, so they can participate in the representative councils that are so important to Afghan society,” Rodriguez said.

Kandahar and its environs were the spiritual home of the Taliban, and the home of Mullah Omar, the spiritual leader of the Taliban, before coalition forces sent him packing in November 2001.

The people of Kandahar do not like the Taliban’s draconian laws, and most would choose another group to govern.

The general attitude, or “buzz of the people is very, very positive,” Rodriguez said. Recent operations inside Kandahar and in the approaches to the city were led and mostly conducted by Afghan police and soldiers.

The Afghan security forces “really treated the people like Afghans need to treat Afghans,” the general said.

There is anecdotal evidence, he said, that some formerly belligerent Afghans are laying down their arms.

“They do not want to face Afghan, American and coalition groups” in any way, Rodriguez said.

Outside the city, coalition and Afghan security forces are working together to clear the area of insurgents to allow Kandahar – the economic engine of southern Afghanistan – to connect with the Central Helmand River Valley and the rest of the country.

The fighting has been tough in the Argendhaub River Valley north of Kandahar City, and now U.S. soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team are taking on the Taliban in Zari and Panjsway. The brigade is partnered with a new Afghan brigade, and together they are making progress.

These areas have some challenging terrain – irrigations ditches, mountains, ditches and arroyos, and heavy foliage. The Taliban has prepared defenses in some of these areas.

“It will be tough … but it is not impossible to accomplish because we have all these great troops,” Rodriguez said. “They know what they are doing and can make a difference in any security situation.

“Every time we go out we learn more and more,” Rodriguez continued. “And we adapt our tactics and we have to learn from the people, the terrain and our Afghan partners. We have to be the ones who adjust faster than the enemy.”

The general also discussed operations in Malajat – a rough area in the southwestern part of the city. Afghan forces – with help from Fort Carson’s 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division, drove the Taliban from the area. But this area is important to the Taliban, Rodriguez said, and the insurgents soon struck back. The U.S. unit lost eight soldiers since commencing operations Aug. 16, he said, noting five soldiers were killed in an improvised explosive device attack.

Afghan security forces had planned on handling the Malajat operation themselves, Rodriguez said, but they’d attacked and were initially turned back. The Afghans re-grouped, he said, and then cleared the area of the Taliban.

The Malajat operation was spearheaded by Afghan police leadership in Kandahar, Rodriguez said. The Afghan National Civil Order Police, he added, played a large role. That police unit, Rodriguez said, consists of high-caliber Afghan noncommissioned officers and officers.