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Tangled Webs of Terrorists

Some things really make you wonder.  Perhaps there's some "justification," but it's simply hard to imagine what excuse would make sense why the government joins with the media in ignoring the ties of terrorists.  The documentation is  there and has been to demonstrate the ties between Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Hezbollah, Hamas, Hizb-i-Islami, Islamic Jihad, the Muslim Brotherhood, just to name a few of  the more well known groups, and other Terrorists.  It is no secret that Osama, Mugniyah, Zawahari, Turabi, are and have been working closely with Iran and The Sudan for decades.

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UK Flagged MV St. James Park Pirated in Gulf of Aden

U.S. Naval Forces, 5th Fleet Public Affairs

12.29.2009 MANAMA, Bahrain - The M/V St. James Park, a U.K. flagged ship, was pirated early Monday evening while transiting the Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor through the Gulf of Aden.

After receiving a signal from the M/V St .James Park's Ship Security Alert System, USS Chosin (CG 65), operating as the flagship to Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151), was able to confirm via Bridge to Bridge radio that pirates had taken control of the vessel.

The M/V St. James Park is the first vessel since July to be pirated in the IRTC. It has a crew of 26, among them Filipinos (3), Russians (3), Georgians (1), Romanians (2), Bulgarians (5), Ukrainians (2), Polish (1), Indians (6) and Turkish (3). There are no U.K. citizens onboard.

Coalition warships constantly patrol the IRTC shipping lanes, watching for signs of pirates and listening for warning calls from vessels concerned about any approaching boat. The warships in the area were not able to intervene in this attack as there were no warnings of the impending attack on the M/V St. James Park.

14 Suspected Terrorists Arrested by Iraqi Forces, U.S. Advisors

Iraqi Forces Arrest Terrorism Suspects

Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs  Courtesy Story  12.28.2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. advisors, arrested several suspected terrorists and seized weapons in Iraq in recent days, military officials reported.

Iraqi security forces today arrested 14 suspected terrorists during a series of operations conducted in northern Iraq targeting suspected al-Qaida in Iraq members.

In southwest Baghdad, Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. advisors, arrested a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq explosives operative believed to be planning and conducting homemade bomb attacks throughout Diyala

2/278th ACR Tribute 2004-05

To the tune of Bob Seger, Turn The Page:

 

As they prepare to return, a look at their last trip.

Iran Denounces Western Criticism of Protest Crackdown

VOA News 29 December 2009

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused the United States and Israel of staging Sunday's anti-government protests in which at least eight people died.

Iran's state-news agency (IRNA) Tuesday quoted Mr. Ahmadinejad as calling the protests a "nauseating masquerade."

Meanwhile, Iranian officials are denouncing international criticism of the Iranian government's deadly crackdown on Sunday's nationwide opposition protests.

Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani read a statement from lawmakers Tuesday saying U.S. President

AFG: Taliban Commander and Other Suspected Militants Captured in Wardak

Forces Detain Suspected Militants in Afghanistan

Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs Courtesy Story 12.28.2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Afghan and international security forces detained several suspected militants, including a Taliban commander, in Afghanistan in recent days, military officials reported.

A combined force captured a Taliban commander and other suspected militants in Wardak yesterday.

The force went to a small compound in Sayad Abad district after intelligence confirmed militant activities there. The force entered the compound and captured the Taliban commander, who identified

National Guard Members Answer the Call

Guardmembers Responded Nationwide to Callouts During Holiday

National Guard Bureau Story by Master Sgt. Mike Smith 12.28.2009

ARLINGTON, Va. – More than 100 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen responded over the holiday and through the weekend to support callouts by governors in four Midwest states hit by a string of severe winter weather.

The National Guard Bureau reported that Guardmembers were first called out to preposition equipment in preparation for the storm, which evolved to blizzard conditions in some areas and dropped record-breaking snow accumulations and ice throughout the nation's center.

Some areas closed roadways and airports, and news agencies reported that at least 21 deaths were caused by roadway accidents. Localized power outages darkened holiday decorations and many travelers

Iraqi Officers Earn Army Training Certificates and Kudos for Crime Scene Course

591st Military Police Company Trains Iraqi Law Enforcers

49TH MILITARY POLICE BRIGADE  Story by Spc. Edward Siguenza 12.28.2009

TAQQADUM, Iraq – More than a dozen Iraqi law enforcers earned U.S. recognition for successfully completing a four-day crime scene investigation program sponsored by the 591st Military Police Company, 151st Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, during this Operation Iraqi Freedom effort.

The Iraqi officers, representing three distinguished organizations, earned Army certificates and kudos from 591st instructors and the 49th's commander, Brig. Gen. Donald Currier. They completed a series of training that included classroom and field work in evidence collection.

"We focused on crime scene processing. We gave them scenarios and tools and let them do their thing," said Staff Sgt. Ismael Leon, 591st instructor.

The first of four days set the tone for this unique training. The Iraqi participants engaged in a question-and-answer session with a prestigious Iraqi judge, who provided invaluable suggestions on what adjudicators like to see in criminal cases.

"That was really impressive. That doesn't happen a lot when a judge speaks to detectives," said Capt.

Joint Operation Meets Insurgent Opposition in Form of Small Arms, RPG Fire

Joint Operation Started to Aid Development in Western Afghanistan

ISAF Joint Command Courtesy Story 12.28.2009

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and ISAF forces began an operation Sunday near Bala Murghab District in Badghis province to secure Afghan national security force outposts as part of a development plan started nearly a month ago. After the joint force occupied security outposts, 60 insurgent fighters attacked the force with small arms and RPG fire from multiple locations including adjacent compounds.

ISAF and Afghan forces continue fighting an extended battle with small arms and mortar fire as well as precision air strikes on confirmed insurgent positions.

Village elders have been consulted throughout the operation, and during a shura Sunday afternoon they expressed support for the operation. ISAF has received no reports of civilian casualties.

Israeli Police Arrest Nuclear Whistleblower

Based on Vanunu's interview with a British paper in 2004, experts concluded that Israel has around 200 nuclear warheads

VOA News 29 December 2009

Israeli police have arrested nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu for allegedly violating a ban on speaking to foreigners.

Police say Vanunu was arrested late Monday after violating conditions of his parole. 

Vanunu was released from prison in 2004, after serving 18 years for discussing his work as a technician at Israel's Dimona nuclear plant with a British newspaper, Sunday Times, in 1986.  He has been banned from traveling abroad or having contact with foreigners. 

Vanunu has violated his parole before.

Israel has never acknowledged or denied having a nuclear weapons program under a policy it calls "nuclear ambiguity."  Based on Vanunu's interview with the British paper, experts concluded that Israel has around 200 nuclear warheads.
 

Operation Proper Exit:"They are here to heal, and we are here to help them do that."

Operation Proper Exit Helps Injured Combat Vets Heal Emotional Wounds

Multi-National Corps Iraq Public Affairs Story by Sgt. Lindsey Bradford 12.28.2009

BAGHDAD - Alive day is a term dubbed by a number of injured combat veterans to describe the day they escaped death. Some were left with scrapes and bruises, others lost their limbs and, for some, there would be emotional wounds they will struggle with for the rest of their lives.

Five combat veterans returned to Iraq Dec. 28, as part of the program Operation Proper Exit, to revisit the places they were injured in hopes of finding emotional closure.

This is the third time this year Operation Proper Exit, sponsored by the Troops First Foundation, has brought troops to Iraq to participate in the

Iraqi Soldiers Prepare for the Traffic Elections Will Bring

Iraqi Soldiers Study Traffic Control for Elections

1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Courtesy Story 12.28.2009 By Capt. Kurt Zortman

CAMP MEJID, Iraq – Dozens of Iraqi soldiers learned to set up and operate traffic control points in preparation for upcoming Iraqi national elections in a 10-day course taught by advise and assist Army engineers at Camp Mejid, Dec. 5-15.

Twenty-five junior officers and soldiers from the 7th Iraqi Army Division were trained on TCPs by engineers from Company A, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), with the intent of returning to their units and teaching others.

The class focused on the principles of traffic control operations and included site selection, design, materials calculation, and function, said Staff Sgt. Christopher Polk, senior construction equipment supervisor.

Several students stationed here were so eager to use what they learned that, before the class concluded, they were teaching their own soldiers at night, said Polk.

"I believe this is a great opportunity to develop our Soldiers by allowing them to instruct and mentor their Iraqi counterparts,"

U.S. Scouts Advise, Assist Iraqi Commandos

Multi-National Division-South Courtesy Story 12.28.2009 By Capt. Rafael Acevedo

CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION GARRYOWEN, Iraq – The citizens of Iraq took a more independent role in securing their country beginning with the Security Agreement signed, June 30. In support of this goal, the Scout platoon from Headquarters, Headquarters Co., 4th Bat., 6th Infantry Reg., is conducting joint operations and training with the 38th Iraqi Army Brigade commandos.

The Scout platoon is developing the commando leadership with instruction on how to be more effective trainers for their jundee (Soldiers). This will help the Iraqis to continue quality training after the

1-10 Field Artillery Soldiers Build Wheelchairs

Multi-National Division-South Courtesy Story 12.28.2009  By Capt. Christopher Aeillo

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Although the mission has changed during this deployment to Iraq for Soldiers of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Inf. Div., those assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, still have an important job to do.

In addition to running a myriad of systems within Forward Operating Base Delta, the artillerymen are partnered with the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team. Both the Soldiers and the Wasit PRT work with the Iraqi populace to identify, build or repair various economic systems that increase stability and growth within the province. The projects range

Yemen: Alleged Terrorist Spent Several Weeks in the Country in 2009

Yemeni Foreign Ministry says 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was granted a visa to study Arabic in Sanaa

VOA News 29 December 2009

Authorities in Yemen say the Nigerian man accused of trying to destroy a U.S. jetliner last week lived in Yemen during a four-month period earlier this year.

The Yemeni Foreign Ministry says 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab lived there between early August and early December.  The ministry says the Nigerian was granted a visa to study Arabic at an institute in the capital Sanaa.  Security officials say they approved the visa for Abdulmutallab because he was granted visas by several friendly countries, and still held a valid visa to the United States.

Abdulmutallab is charged with trying to detonate a bomb while flying aboard a Northwest Airlines jet

"I didn't join the Marine Corps during a time of war not to fight,"

Marines Serve in Afghanistan With Pride

Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs Courtesy Story 12.28.2009 By Marine Lance Cpl. Walter Marino Special to American Forces Press Service

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marines of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion are serving in southern Afghanistan with pride, despite the hardship of being away from their families during the holidays.

The Marines are working hard, building observational posts, searching for improvised explosive devices and providing route clearance.

"I didn't join the Marine Corps during a time of war not to fight," said Cpl. Aaron A. Bennet, a heavy equipment operator.

"It was time to do my part," he said.

Marines deploy to Afghanistan knowing they may not see loved ones for up to a year. Yet, the positive is

Iran Denounces US, British Criticism of Protest Crackdown

VOA News 29 December 2009

Iranian officials are denouncing international criticism of the Iranian government's deadly crackdown on nationwide opposition protests last Sunday.

Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani read a statement from lawmakers Tuesday saying U.S. President Barack Obama is disgracing himself by praising the Iranian opposition.

Mr. Obama said Monday he condemns what he called Iran's "violent and unjust suppression of innocent Iranians."  He also expressed "deep admiration for the courage and conviction of Iranians" who have been trying to exercise universal rights.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also praised what he called the "great courage" of Iranian

Holiday Mail for Heroes: Cards Arrive at Walter Reed Hospital

Here is the end result of your cards that were sent to the Red Cross for delivery at Walter Reed Hospital.........{THANK YOU for caring enough to send a card!!}

Year In Review: In June 2009, The Persian People Stood Up Against Their Tyrant

"Don't be afraid. We are together"

Against this huge mass of peaceful protestors, the Basij understood their powerlessness, and even that of their tear gas, which was bypassed.

FOB in Afghanistan: Celebrating Christmas the best way they could – together.

Holidays on the Forward Operating Base

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO  Story by Master Sgt. Sarah Webb  12.28.2009

FORWARD OPERATING BASE VULCAN, Afghanistan - Spending the holidays away from home can be tough, but the soldiers at Forward Operating Base Vulcan celebrated Christmas the best way they could – together.

There are 85 Georgia National Guard soldiers assigned to the Combined Action Unit on FOB Vulcan. The job of the CAU is to support and train the Afghan national police.

"Our mission ranges from providing training, to planning for and going on missions with the ANP as well as providing logistical support and mentorship," said 1st Lt. David Esra, Qara Bagh/Wagez Police

IJC Operational Update, Dec. 28, 2009

ISAF Joint Command Courtesy Story  12.28.2009

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan-international security force captured a Taliban facilitator and several other militants in Kandahar last night.

A joint force searched a series of buildings in Kandahar City after intelligence assets confirmed militant activities. The security force captured the facilitator and militants believed to be involved in coordinating suicide attacks and providing financial, media and logistical support.

In an operation in Wardak last night, an Afghan-international security force captured a Taliban

Army Col. Robert L. Howard (Retired), Medal of Honor recipient, Dies at age 70

Army Col. Robert L. Howard, 70, of San Antonio. TX. passed away on December 23, 2009.  He served with 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam-Studies and Observation Group.  Col Howard received the Medal of Honor for his actions while serving in Vietnam.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government to service members who distinguish themselves through gallantry and intrepidity, risking his or her life above and beyond the call of duty against enemies of the United States of America.

Colonel Howard was awarded his medal for his actions in Vietnam. As a sergeant first class, he served as a platoon sergeant of an American-Vietnamese platoon. The platoon was attacked by an estimated two-company force. Although he was wounded and unable to walk, he crawled through heavy gunfire to retrieve his wounded leader and rejoin the platoon. He rallied the platoon into an organized defensive force, administered first aid and directed the defenders to repulse enemy attacks for three and a half hours. 

In addition to his Medal of Honor, Colonel Howard has

The Few. The Proud. The Arsenal Marines.

WATERVLIET ARSENAL, N.Y. -- In a continuing effort to educate the Watervliet Arsenal workforce about the world outside of their immediate workspace, I have traveled from the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli in search of this story - figuratively speaking because the Arsenal command group wouldn't fund my TDY.

Dec 24, 2009  By John B. Snyder

As most folks know, the Watervliet Arsenal is an Army installation and so, I was a little surprised to find in one of the Arsenal buildings, U.S. Marines, 11 of them to be exact.

As I crept up the steps to the second floor of Building 40, Marine Corps indoctrination began. Painted on each step were leadership traits that Marines value, such as integrity and loyalty.

USMC Maj. Daniel Whitley, Capt. Brent Rider, Cpl. Joshua Decker, Sgt. Joseph DiGirolamo, and Capt. Paul Gates stand at the entrance to the Albany USMC Recruiting Station at the Watervliet Arsenal.  Each step one takes reminds all about the leadership values of the United States Marine Corps.  Whitley is the commander. Photo Credit: John B. Snyder.

Having spent a few years in the Army, it would take more than 16 or so steps to indoctrinate me. Onward I went.

Soldier Climbing Highest Mountain

Face of Defense: Soldier Aims to Scale Earth's Highest Peak

Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs  Story by Pfc. J.P. Lawrence  12.28.2009

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE, Basra, Iraq - Toward the end of every soldier's deployment comes the time to decide what's next.

Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Bari, a medic serving with the 34th Infantry Division here, plans to climb mountains after he departs Iraq.

Bari intends to start small as part of his ultimate goal of scaling the world's highest peak: 29,029-feet-high Mount Everest in Nepal.

Bari found his calling in the woods of northern Minnesota last fall.

"I started rock climbing up in Duluth in the summer

Equality & Equal Opportunity

Are heroes only white?  Do black female heroes have a lower standard?  Black, White, Hispanic, Male, Female are not words you'll find on these pages very often.  Why?  Is it because we fail to recognize their achievements? No, not at all!

When a Sheepdog, whether Soldier, Police Officer, or Civilian risks their life to save another, it does not matter what tint their skin or whether they wore skirts or shorts as a child.  True equality does not come so long as an emphasis is placed on skin or sex.  To put an emphasis on how a hero is a minority implies that such an achievement is rare for the category emphasized.

278th Armored Cavalry Regiment Tribute

As 278th ACR preps to return to combat,a Tribute to their last trip:

One must wonder if SGT Womack is still in the 278th and how many of those in this video are hard at work to go back.  The 278th has a long history and was once the 30th Infantry Division.  Cavalry has a long history in Tennessee and it's a storied unit with Soldiers ancestored back to both sides of the Civil War and to the War of Independence.

No doubt, they'll see the fruits of their labor from the previous deployment as well as the frustrations of restrictive Rules of Engagement as this time round they'll be "non-combat" Troops fighting the politicians and bureacrats to stay Cavalry in a system that doesn't recognize the unique role of such units, even while transitioning other units to roles similar to it.

Iranian Police Arrest 5 Prominent Activists

Iranian opposition groups say authorities have arrested at least five prominent reformists as part of a new crackdown on anti-government protests, following demonstrations in which at least eight people were killed.

VOA News 28 December 2009

Opposition Web sites say three advisers to Iran's opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi were detained Monday, including his top aide, Ali Riza Beheshti.

They say authorities also arrested human-rights campaigner Emad Baghi and opposition activist Ebrahim Yazdi, who was foreign minister after Iran's Islamic Revolution three decades ago.

State-run Press TV says eight people were killed in nationwide anti-government protests Sunday at

RIP SPC Jason M. Johnston

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

 

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

 

    Spc. Jason M. Johnston, 24, of Albion, N.Y., died Dec. 26 in Arghandab, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

"He which hath no stomach to this fight let him depart. But we in it shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers!! For he today, that sheds his blood with me, shall always be my brother”. Rest in peace my Brothers, you have not been forgotten. (W.Shakespeare)

Georgia Citizen-Soldier Earns Second Combat Badge

 

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO Story by Sgt. Tracy Smith

12.27.2009 When U.S. Army Col. Kenneth C. Braddock, from Columbia, S.C., pinned the Combat Infantry Badge on U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Wesley R. Hawk , from Savannah, Ga., at Forward Operating Base Fenty in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, it signified the next chapter in their long and interesting careers.

Hawk swore to protect and defend his country, 20 years ago, and he found himself almost immediately going to war, assigned to then Capt. Braddock's company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 24th Infantry Division, one of the first units to be deployed to the Middle East for Operation Desert Storm.

"I remember it as if it were yesterday," Braddock recalled. "In 1990, young Spc. Hawk was my gunner...and I was his first company commander out of basic infantry school. He was one of my best."

ECS Airmen Train Iraqi Counterparts

506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs Story by Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez

12.27.2009 Airmen assigned to the 506th Expeditionary Communications Squadron teamed with their Iraqi air force counterparts Dec. 15 to assist them with replacing computer network cables destroyed by a fire earlier in the year.

The Iraqi and ECS Airmen installed approximately 5,000 feet of cable in an Iraqi training facility where their combined efforts led to the expedient completion of the work project.

"The project was originally supposed to take three weeks and right now we're going into our fourth day and it should be finished by tomorrow," said Senior Airman Jonathan Dawson, 506th ECS telephone maintenance technician deployed from the 149th Combat Communications Squadron, North Highlands Air National Guard Station, Calif. "They're quick learners and I would say within the first hour of us showing the initial stuff, they were already doing it themselves."

While working together, the ECS Airmen shared some tricks of the trade with the Iraqi airmen demonstrating a way to efficiently run the new cable in place of the damaged cable by attaching a chaser string.

"We pull the old cables out and it pulls the piece of string through the same route. So when you're trying to put the new cable through, you tie it and pull it with the string," said Senior Airman Christopher Swift, 506th ECS telephone maintenance technician.

The next step was securing the 31 loose cables inside panduit wiring ducts along the office walls, wiring them into wall jacks along the way. Each wire was then connected to the network switchboard and panel. Afterward, they tested each jack to ensure it was wired correctly then labeled each wire to its corresponding wall jack.

"They'll now be able to plug their computer into the wall and they'll have their network connectivity," said the Airman deployed from the 54th Combat Communications Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

One Iraqi airman helped make the process more efficient by using electrical tape to bundle the wires before running it through the panduit, a new trick Airman Swift said he never thought of.

"When we ran it through the panduit, it all went in there flush ... it goes in clean and it's so much easier to work with," he said.

Speaking through an interpreter, an Iraqi air force communications Chief Warrant Officer said the training was beneficial because he learned many things from the Airmen.

After learning his new skills and quickly demonstrating his abilities, he also said that he hopes to expand his knowledge one day and work on repairing fiber optic cables.