Breaking news from Combined Joint Task Force-82 and the War on Terror. http://www.cjtf101.com Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:38:56 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 CjtfRssFeedhttp://feedburner.google.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CjtfRssFeed/~3/DbEDGZQfzqc/U.S.-Air-Force-physician-assistant-makes-difference-in-Afghan-lives.html BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (February 6, 2009) — Members of the Afghan government, security leadership and International Security Assistance Forces from Nangarhar, Nuristan, Konar and Laghman met at the Nangarhar governor’s compound Feb. 2, to conduct the N2KL Joint Security Conference. The purpose was to create a forum where leaders across all four provinces could gather monthly to share information and ideas from all the Afghan National Security Forces and government representatives on how to improve security in N2KL. “It is my goal to use this session to kick start and help work on the government’s priorities and develop better cooperation as we build and empower the regions new Operational Coordination Center-Regional,” said U.S. Army Col John Spiszer, Task Force Duke, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division commander. The OCC-R is standing up in Jalalabad and will be commanded by Afghan National Army Maj. Gen. Abdul Zia. While talking about security in N2KL, the Konar governor stressed the importance of bringing additional troops into the area to protect the more than 250 miles of border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The TF Duke commander also spoke about the increase of more than 700 U.S. Soldiers to partner with Afghan security forces, mostly... News - Recent Events Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:28:05 +0100 http://www.cjtf101.com/index.php/Recent-Events/U.S.-Air-Force-physician-assistant-makes-difference-in-Afghan-lives.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CjtfRssFeed/~3/3vVdICZoTBY/10th-Mountain-Division-troops-move-into-Logar-Wardak-provinces.html BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (February 5, 2009) — Forward Operating Base Blessing in north-eastern Afghanistan are updating their Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities to help Soldiers stay connected with their family and friends back home.The FOB has been receiving improvements such as the construction of new buildings and the repositioning of departments on the installation. The changes allowed the MWR to move from a small building to a larger space in a newly renovated building.“We have too many people here for the old facility to accommodate,” said U.S. Army Pvt. Roman Orr, radio telephone operator for 1st Infantry Regiment, 26th Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division and a Red Oak, Texas native. “We had to sit and wait an hour sometimes to get on a computer with nothing to do while we waited.”The former building was cramped with only small desks for computers and phones and a small bookshelf for reading material. The computer terminals were so small the Soldiers had to hold the keyboards on their laps to make room for the mouse on the desk. “All we had before been a little network room,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Lou Holzwarth, battalion operations... News - Recent Events Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:37:24 +0100 http://www.cjtf101.com/index.php/Recent-Events/10th-Mountain-Division-troops-move-into-Logar-Wardak-provinces.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CjtfRssFeed/~3/s6uI2tJkJ1g/Coalition-forces-disrupt-IED-network-in-Zabul.html Release Number 20092201-03 January 22, 2009 KABUL, Afghanistan – Coalition forces killed six armed Taliban militants and detained one suspected militant during an operation to disrupt the Taliban’s foreign fighter and roadside bomb network in Zabul province Wednesday. In Daychopan District, approximately 150 km northeast of Kandahar City, Coalition forces targeted a Taliban commander wanted for his ties to the roadside bombing network along Highway One and recent attacks against Coalition forces in Zabul province. He is also known to traffic foreign fighters into the region. As Coalition forces prepared to search the targeted compound, they gave specific instructions for all individuals to exit peacefully. Armed militants from surrounding compounds responded to these instructions by engaging Coalition forces with small-arms fire. Coalition forces returned fire, killing five armed militants during the engagement, while protecting 23 women and 31 children. During the skirmish one armed militant exited a building and took up a fighting position on a nearby hill, engaging the Coalition forces from behind large rocks. Unable to neutralize the threat with small-fire and while taking effective enemy fire, Coalition forces engaged the one militant with precision air strikes, killing him. A search of the targeted compound revealed multiple AK-47s and other weapons. Coalition forces confiscated... News - Press Releases Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:19:15 +0100 http://www.cjtf101.com/index.php/Press-Releases/Coalition-forces-disrupt-IED-network-in-Zabul.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CjtfRssFeed/~3/MPufuAXIFe0/Panjshiris-benefit-from-poppy-free-status.html Release Number 20092201-01 January 22, 2009 KABUL, Afghanistan – More than 100 Afghans attended the Good Performance Initiative ribbon-cutting ceremony, signifying the official handover of agriculture machinery and irrigation system projects at governor’s compound in Bazarak, Panjshir province, approximately 100 km from Kabul, Jan. 13. Last year, General Khodaidad Khodaidad, Minister of Counternarcotics, awarded Provincial Governor Haji Bahlol Bahej and the people of Panjshir $1.4 million for being a poppy-free province. The award money was invested in five development projects identified by members of the Panjshir Provincial Development Council, district committee, village shuras and the provincial governor. The projects included the construction of irrigation systems, structures and water supplies, provision of agro-machinery and the establishment of greenhouses and fruit orchards. “About 95 percent of the Panjshir population is currently practicing subsistence agriculture,” said Greg Schlenz, Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team’s U.S. Department of Agriculture agricultural advisor. “The overall objective is to provide long-term livelihood for farmers, so they [can] earn more crops from their fields. The Good Performers Initiative was established by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in 2006 to provide development assistance awards to Afghan governors who exhibit political will to substantially reduce... News - Press Releases Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:17:55 +0100 http://www.cjtf101.com/index.php/Press-Releases/Panjshiris-benefit-from-poppy-free-status.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CjtfRssFeed/~3/SEeFZxL6aYo/Afghan-officials-Coalition-forces-investigate-claims-of-civilian-casualties-in-Kapisa.html Release Number 20092101-01 January 21, 2009 KABUL, Afghanistan – Coalition forces are meeting with Afghan officials to look into allegations of civilian casualties as a result of operations conducted in Kapisa Jan. 20. Statements from Kapisa leaders and Coalition operational reports maintain Coalition forces only killed Taliban commander Mullah Patang and 18 other militants. However, Pahjwok Afghan News reported Tuesday Kapisa residents said Coalition troops killed 25 civilians during the operation. Coalition forces met with Kapisa leaders before and after Tuesday’s operation. Governor Abu Bakr told Coalition forces after the operation Tuesday that he knew the target, Mullah Patang (“Mullah the Robber”), and thanked the Coalition for removing him and his supporters. Afghan Islamic Press also quoted Nesar Ahmad Safay, a Hezb-e Eslami spokesman, who confirmed Coalition forces killed “Commander Patang” and 13 other fighters in Tuesday’s incident. During the operation, multiple groups of armed militants exited several buildings and attempted to engage approaching Coalition forces with small-arms fire. Coalition forces returned small-arms fire and used close-air precision munitions to prevent the armed militants’ movement against Coalition forces. Coalition forces used small-arms and precision munitions to minimize the risk to civilians in Kapisa. “We take reports of civilian casualties very seriously,” said Col.... News - Press Releases Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:16:53 +0100 http://www.cjtf101.com/index.php/Press-Releases/Afghan-officials-Coalition-forces-investigate-claims-of-civilian-casualties-in-Kapisa.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CjtfRssFeed/~3/XgsevpkFrbo/Coalition-forces-disrupt-terrorist-networks-in-eastern-and-southern-Afghanistan.html Release Number 20092001-01 January 20, 2009 KABUL, Afghanistan – Coalition forces killed twenty-two armed militants, including two Taliban commanders, and detained eleven during multiple operations targeting the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist networks in eastern and southern Afghanistan, Monday. In Kapisa, Coalition forces killed Taliban commander Mullah Patang and 18 other militants during an operation to disrupt the Taliban’s terrorist network in the Tagab Valley, located approximately 50 km north of Kabul City. Mullah Patang was in direct contact with and carried out orders from senior Taliban leaders in Afghanistan and abroad. Patang was responsible for numerous roadside bomb and direct attacks against innocent civilians, GIRoA officials and Coalition forces throughout the region. As Coalition forces approached the targeted compounds, multiple groups of armed militants exited from several buildings and attempted to maneuver on and engage the force with small-arms fire. Coalition forces returned small-arms fires and used close-air precision munitions to prevent the armed militants’ movement against the force. After neutralizing the threat, Coalition forces continued the operation, searching the targeted buildings. The operation yielded more than 20 AK-47s, multiple hand grenades and bandoliers of full magazines. The items were destroyed to prevent their future use; eight suspected... News - Press Releases Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:15:42 +0100 http://www.cjtf101.com/index.php/Press-Releases/Coalition-forces-disrupt-terrorist-networks-in-eastern-and-southern-Afghanistan.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CjtfRssFeed/~3/Zns5tUuvhDc/Afghan-civilian-injured-in-accident.html Release Number 20091601-02 January 16, 2009 Kabul, Afghanistan — An Afghan child was injured in Nangarhar Province today in a traffic accident involving a coalition vehicle. The coalition vehicle grazed the child as he was attempting to cross the highway. The child received medical treatment at the scene before being transported to the hospital in Fenty. Reports indicate the child is expected to make full recovery. The accident is currently under investigation. “While all the facts surrounding this accident are not known at this time, we certainly take seriously our responsibility to avoid circumstances where Afghan civilians are placed at risk,” said Brig. Gen. Steven P. Huber, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix Commander. “We will work with local law enforcement officials to determine the facts and take action as appropriate once the accident investigation is completed.” News - Press Releases Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:13:59 +0100 http://www.cjtf101.com/index.php/Press-Releases/Afghan-civilian-injured-in-accident.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CjtfRssFeed/~3/WdigljGtRrM/U.S.-Forces-Afghanistan-expressed-sympathy-to-Afghanistan.html Release Number 20091501-01 January 15, 2009 KABUL, Afghanistan –U.S. Forces Afghanistan express our condolences to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense and the people of Afghanistan, for the death of Major Gen. Famahmad Sayar and those who died in today’s tragic aircraft accident in western Afghanistan. “We express our deepest sympathies to the families of the lost Afghan National Army Soldiers,” said U.S. Force Afghanistan Director of Strategic Communications, Brig. Gen. Michael Ryan. “The legacy these Soldiers leave behind is one of unyielding commitment to making Afghanistan a safer and more secure place to live.” News - Press Releases Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:12:27 +0100 http://www.cjtf101.com/index.php/Press-Releases/U.S.-Forces-Afghanistan-expressed-sympathy-to-Afghanistan.html