ISAF NEWS FOR AUGUST 5, 2012

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Airstrike Kills Taliban Leader Involved in Aug. 7 Attack
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2012 - One of the Taliban leaders behind an Aug. 7 attack on a coalition base in Afghanistan's Logar province was killed by Afghan and coalition security forces in Logar's Pul-e Alam district yesterday, military officials reported.

Afghan and coalition security forces positively identified the Taliban leader, Bismullah, and two additional insurgents and killed them with a precision airstrike after confirming no civilians were in the area, officials said.

Bismullah is believed to have supplied suicide bombers with essential equipment for the Aug. 7 attack, which wounded several Afghan civilians but failed to cause any significant damage to the coalition base. At the time of his death, officials said, he was believed to be planning another large-scale attack and had transported several rockets across the region.

A post-strike assessment determined no civilian property was damaged and no civilians were harmed.

In other news, a combined Afghan and coalition security force killed several armed insurgents during an operation to arrest a senior Taliban leader in Balkh province's Chimtal district today. As the security force approached the Taliban leader's suspected location, several insurgents opened fire and the security force returned fire.

In operations yesterday:

-- A combined force of coalition troops and Afghan special police in Kandahar province's Maiwand district seized a vehicle packed with nearly 3 tons of explosives. The Afghan-led team stopped the vehicle and detained its three occupants. The vehicle is believed to have been bound for bomb makers in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, officials said, and the explosives were destroyed on site.

-- The Wardak Provincial Response Company and coalition forces disrupted an insurgent attack on an Afghan army security patrol in Wardak province's Maidan Shahr district. Responding to a reported insurgent ambush on the patrol, the response company provided covering fire for the unit in contact and conducted a follow-on mission to investigate a suspected Taliban checkpoint.

U.S. SEC. OF STATE CLINTON AND NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER MEET

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Remarks With New Zealand Prime Minister KeyRemarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

New Zealand High Commissioner's Residence, Cook Islands

August 31, 2012

PRIME MINISTER KEY: Okay, so good afternoon. Welcome to Ngatipa, the New Zealand residence here in the Cook Islands. It’s been a pleasure for me to host Secretary Clinton and her team for lunch today. It’s always wonderful to have Secretary Clinton in this part of the world. New Zealand very warmly remembers your visit to our country back in 2010 when you signed the Wellington Declaration, which describes in celebrating the strategic partnership of our two countries here. In the almost two years since Secretary Clinton’s visit to New Zealand, the bilateral relationship has gone from strength to strength. Earlier this year, the Wellington Declaration was complemented by the Washington Declaration (inaudible) relationship.

Secretary Clinton and I discussed a number of areas of cooperation, and I’ll mention just a few. The (inaudible) and the Cook Islands are the forums and executive office is fully committed to supporting inspirations and initiatives of Pacific Island countries. As the outgoing chair of Cook Islands Forum, New Zealand welcomes the full (inaudible) historically strong engagement with the island nations of the Pacific.

We’ve been pleased to announce this week a number of joint initiatives, including the areas of (inaudible) economic development, clean energy, and maritime surveillance. We discussed Afghanistan. New Zealand has stood alongside the United States as part of an international coalition there since 9/11 joined by other countries to tackle the threats posed by al-Qaida and its allies. We’ve endured the terrible loss of life suffered by our coalition partners in Afghanistan, particularly the recent New Zealand and Australian losses and those of the United States.

Secretary Clinton and I discussed the broad range of issues in the Asia Pacific region as we look towards the APEC summit in Russia in around 10 days time. New Zealand warmly supports the United States rebalancing towards the Asia Pacific, and we welcome the opportunity to cooperate with the U.S. in the next conflicts. We discussed our ongoing (inaudible) along side a number of other countries (inaudible) partnership agreement. Secretary Clinton and I share the goal of securing a high quality, (inaudible) free trade agreement, would be a significant (inaudible) countries involved, indeed to the region as a whole.

Before passing over to Secretary Clinton, I’d like to convey publicly my personal gratitude for all that she’s done for the past relations between our two countries and our two peoples over the past four years. Secretary Clinton’s personal interest and involvement in our country is greatly appreciated by the New Zealand people. You’ve been great friends to New Zealand and you’re always welcome (inaudible).

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Prime Minister, thank you very much for the warm welcome that you have provided. As the first Secretary of State to make this journey, I am especially delighted and honored. I was pleased to meet with leaders of the Pacific Island Forum, member states, to attend the Pacific Island Forum, post-forum dialogue where I had a chance to reaffirm the Obama Administration’s commitment to our engagement in the Asia Pacific with an equal emphasis on the Pacific part of that phrase. The United States is very proud to be a Pacific nation, a long history in this region, and we are committed to be here for the long run.

Today, I’m announcing new programs and new funding to support our friends in this region in three key areas: promoting sustainable economic development and protecting biodiversity; advancing regional security; and supporting women of the Pacific as they reach for greater political, economic, and social opportunities.

To give just a few examples, the United States will work with Kiribati to protect its marine ecosystem and help coastal communities throughout the region adapt to the effects of climate change and to develop renewable energy resources.

We will expand our security partnership so U.S. ships can be of even greater help in preventing illegal and unregulated fishing, and we will take additional steps to clean up unexploded ordnance in the region, much of it still there from World War Two. We will support the Rarotonga Partnership for the Advancement of Pacific Island Women, launched just today, and I’ll be looking forward to meeting with women from the region later this afternoon.

I’m also very committed to expanding investment and trade in the region, in pursuit of sustainable economic growth. Later today, I’ll meet with local pearl vendors from here in the Cook Islands who are running their businesses while also protecting marine resources.

Obviously, I could go on because there’s a lot to do in this very important region of the world, and there is no doubt that our relationship with New Zealand provides a strong foundation for our engagement across the Pacific. I especially want to thank Prime Minister Key for his leadership in revitalizing the partnership between New Zealand and the United States. As he said, we signed the Wellington Declaration two years ago, and then in June our countries signed the Washington Declaration, which emphasized our defense cooperation.

We are working together on a number of important issues, from establishing security in Afghanistan where Kiwi soldiers have made extraordinary sacrifices. Just recently, the losses are ones that we are equally grieved by and offer our condolences to the families as well as the people of New Zealand. We also are very appreciative of New Zealand’s leadership in addressing climate change and conserving natural resources and opening the doors of opportunity.

In particular, I want to thank the Prime Minister for his government’s support of women across the region. And we’re going to create an exchange program connecting women in the Pacific with women in the Caribbean who work in agriculture so they can learn from each other and understand better how to improve the incomes and opportunities for themselves and their families.

The United States welcomes the chance to work with a broad array of partners in the region –Japan, the European Union, China – we all have an interest in advancing security, prosperity, and opportunity. And as I said this morning, the Pacific is certainly big enough for all of us. So thank you Prime Minister, the United States values our relationship. We celebrated its 70th anniversary this year. We feel a special kinship and closeness to New Zealand and your people and we continue to look, as you said, for our relationship to go from strength to strength. So thank you again for your leadership and partnership.

MODERATOR: Secretary Clinton and Prime Minister Key have kindly allowed two questions from each side. May I remind you to please (inaudible)? We’re going to start with New Zealand and (inaudible).

QUESTION: Good afternoon, Madam Secretary. How concerned is the U.S. that China’s growing influence in the region (inaudible) how it administers aid, and also its growing links with (inaudible)?

SECRETARY CLINTON: So this is an area that the Prime Minister and I discussed over lunch, and I have to say that we think it is important for the Pacific Island nations to have good relationships with as many partners as possible and that includes China as well as the United States, and we believe there is more that China can do with us, with New Zealand, with Australia, with others, to further sustainable development, improve the health of the people, deal with climate change and the environment, and I look forward to discussing these issues when I am in Beijing next week.

New Zealand sets a good example for the work that we think can be done with China. New Zealand has worked with China on water issues, for example. We want to see more multinational development projects that include the participation of China. And as part of our strategic and economic dialogue with China, we have a section on development. And it’s been my observation over the last four sessions that we have now held that China is becoming more interested in learning from, understanding best practices and cooperating with other countries.

Our policy, as expressed by President Obama and myself many times, is we want a comprehensive, positive, cooperative relationship between the United States and China. We think it is good for our country, it’s good for our people, and in fact, it’s not only good for this region, it’s good for the world. We’ve invested a lot in our strategic and economic dialogue. We speak very frankly about areas where we do not agree. We both raise issues that the other side would prefer perhaps we not, or they not. But I think our dialogue has moved to have a positive arena because we are able to discuss all matters together.

Now here in the Pacific, we want to see China act in a fair and transparent way. We want to see them play a positive role in navigation and maritime security issues. We want to see them contribute to sustainable development for the people of the Pacific; to protect the precious environment, including the ocean; and to pursue economic activity that will benefit the people.

So we think that there’s a great opportunity to work with China, and we’re going to be looking for more ways to do that.

MODERATOR: Next question.

QUESTION: Thank you, Madam Secretary. If I could follow up first a little bit on the previous question. You mentioned that there was room for cooperation between the United States and China in development (inaudible) one introduced here in climate change. Can you tell the leaders of the Pacific Islands that the United States is doing all that it can?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, after the first question, I know Admiral Locklear is here with us and he’s certainly more than capable of speaking for himself about what PACOM is doing. But several things: We are beginning to discuss cooperation with respect to disaster prevention and response. We would like to see China play a role in that. There are a lot of disasters in this region, from earthquakes, which New Zealand knows so well, to tsunamis and cyclones and terrible flooding as we saw in the Philippines just recently. So we think that that is an area that should be explored in more depth.

We also believe, on the aid front, that there is a lot of opportunity for cooperation between us and China. It is something we are modeling after New Zealand. New Zealand has been working on water issues with China, we want to learn the lessons about what works. PACOM has a great reach in the Pacific and is involved in everything from overseeing our hospital ships to working to train local officials in protecting their environment and protecting their water.

We also know that there’s a real threat from climate change, which gets me to your second question. This is real. I will underscore that. It is one that the leaders of these nations speak about with great passion because they are all very low lying land and are worried that they’re going to be swamped in the next 10, 20, 30, 40 years. So we understand very well the feelings that the Pacific Island nations have about climate change. And we stand behind our pledges in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to prompt substantial action to help vulnerable countries adapt.

Among the programs we discussed today at the new coastal community adaptation project. It’s a five-year, $25 million project to help build the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities of the Pacific to withstand extreme weather, and not only in the short run, but rising sea levels over the longer term. USAID, which as you know we brought back to the Pacific and established a headquarters in Papua New Guinea, is contributing $3 million over three years to Germany, coping with climate change in the Pacific Islands programs. And we’re working continually to develop an international consensus on reducing green house gas emissions, and other short – and on the short list – climate pollutants initiative that I started a year ago. As you know, in part because of the economy, U.S. emissions are the lowest that they’ve been in 20 years.

But look, we know we have more to do, and we have made a commitment, we’re going to stick with our commitment. I hope that we’ll be able to go beyond those commitments in the future.

MODERATOR: (Inaudible.)

QUESTION: Australia and New Zealand suffered one of the greatest losses of life since the Vietnam War in Afghanistan. Do you think the sacrifice was worth it, and do you (inaudible) stand by the United States?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well first, let me say to both New Zealand and Australia, we are deeply grateful for their participation in this coalition effort under ISAF. And we’re also very sorry about their losses as we are at the loss of any of our coalition partners and ourselves. But I think it’s important to stress that both New Zealand and Australia have played a crucial role in the ISAF mission. Their soldiers and civilians are highly regarded.

New Zealand’s contributions are far beyond what one would ordinarily expect of a country the size of New Zealand. Prime Minister Key and I of course discussed Afghanistan today. I also called Prime Minister Gillard to express condolences and exchange views with her. And I’m gratified that despite the challenges we’ve all had, including the losses that we have suffered at the hands of insurgents and turncoats, we are all resolved to see this mission through as the commitments we’ve made suggest.

I think it’s important to just reflect on the fact that a lot of progress has been made. Any time we lose the lives or see one of our soldiers or civilians – I mean, I lost an aid worker, I have a seriously injured foreign service officer in – at Walter Reed – every time this happens, soldiers and civilians alike. we are reminded of the incredible sacrifice that our nations are making.

But we should also remind ourselves of the progress we have made since we went into this together. Over lunch, the Prime Minister was sharing some statistics from the New Zealand PRT in (inaudible) province that are really impressive in terms of advances in health, education, and infrastructure. So we are committed to seeing this through as we all agreed to at Lisbon, as we reiterated at Chicago, because we cannot afford see Afghanistan turn back into a haven for terrorism that threatens us all. And the work we have done together to prepare the Afghan national security forces to defend themselves and take the security lead is a much greater positive than negative story.

So we offer our condolences, but we also offer our appreciation to the people of New Zealand – soldiers and civilians alike who have been part of this important global effort.

MODERATOR: One last question. Steve Myers from New York Times.

QUESTION: Thank you. Madam Secretary, (inaudible), can you talk a little bit about the (inaudible) this designation of the Haqqani Network as a terrorist organization? What is your thinking on the pros and cons of that before the deadline next week? And Prime Minister, if you would, I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on the prospect of a negotiated settlement with groups like the Haqqani Network or the Taliban as part of the effort to drawing down the war there?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Steve, I’m not going to comment on any stories about any internal discussions, of course. But I’m aware that I have an obligation to report to Congress. Of course, we will meet that commitment. And I’d like to underscore that we are putting steady pressure on the Haqqanis. That is part of what our military does every single day along with our ISAF partners. We are drawing up their resources, we are targeting their military and intelligence personnel. We are pressing the Pakistanis to step up their own efforts. So we’re already taking action and we’ll have more to say about the specific request from Congress next week.

PRIME MINISTER KEY: Well, as Secretary Clinton indicated, from New Zealand’s point of view, we think two goals in Afghanistan have been to try and train both Afghanis (inaudible) crisis response units in the Afghan police. And we’ve done that – (inaudible) we will be doing it in (inaudible) but we hope (inaudible) look after its own security.

In terms of any negotiation with the Taliban or with groups in Afghanistan, we fundamentally believe that will ultimately be a matter for the Afghan Government, but they will (inaudible) find a way through a very difficult situation and its coming to the (inaudible) I wouldn’t be surprised if some part of it attempts to deliver greater security in Afghanistan some discussion. But it’s ultimately up to President Karzai.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR AUGUST 30, 2012

Photo:  U.S. Gen. Allen Visits Shop In Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. DOD.
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Helicopter Crash Kills 2 ISAF Members in Afghanistan

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2012 - Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan today, military officials reported.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, officials said.

According to operational reporting, there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash. It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.

In operations today around Afghanistan:

-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Taliban insurgent in the Hisarak district of Nangarhar province.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban leader in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province. The sought-after Taliban leader organizes insurgent operations against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district.

-- In the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, an Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained numerous suspects and seized multiple weapons during an operation to arrest a Taliban explosives supplier.

-- Also in the Panjwai district, a combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban facilitator who provides improvised explosive devices and weapons to insurgents.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban leader in the Andar district of Ghazni province. The sought-after Taliban leader directs IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR AUGUST 28, 2012

Photo Credit:  U.S. Air Force

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Helicopter Makes Forced Landing in Eastern Afghanistan

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2012 - An International Security Assistance Force helicopter made a forced landing in eastern Afghanistan today, military officials reported.
There were no reported fatalities, and the site of the incident is secure, officials said. Initial reporting indicates that there was no enemy activity in the area at the time.
ISAF officials are assessing the circumstances to determine more facts.
In Afghanistan operations today:
-- An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani network leader and three suspected insurgents during an operation in the Zurmat district of Paktia province. The Haqqani insurgent -- an improvised explosive device specialist -- is responsible for numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, including recent attacks against Afghan forces in Zurmat.

-- A combined force arrested a Taliban leader and one other suspect in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. The Taliban leader planned and directed IED attacks and had acquired suicide vests for attacks on Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force detained multiple suspects during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Zharay district of Kandahar province. The Taliban leader directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the Zharay and Panjwai districts.

-- A combined force arrested a Haqqani weapons supplier and one suspected insurgent during an operation in the Pul-e Alam district of Logar province. The weapons supplier acquired weapons and IEDs for Haqqani fighters throughout the province. In the days leading to his arrest, the weapons supplier provided funds, weapons and equipment to Haqqani fighters for an upcoming attack.

In an Aug. 26 operation in the Khoshi district of Logar province, a coalition force found and destroyed 136 mortar rounds and 23 rockets.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN AUGUST 21, 2012

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
An A-10 Thunderbolt II is refueled over Afghanistan during overseas contingency operations, August 2, 2012. The 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Sq. (EARS) conducts missions out of Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, and plays an integral role in keeping air assets refueled in support of U.S. and coalition ground forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)
　
Airstrike Kills Insurgents in Kunar Province
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 21, 2012 - An airstrike in the Watahpur district of Afghanistan's Kunar province yesterday killed several insurgents, including an al-Qaida affiliated Taliban leader, military officials reported.
　
Targeted was Mutaqi, also known as Mullah Amir Muhammad or Malik, who was responsible for passing critical information among senior al-Qaida-associated Taliban leaders in the province, officials said, and was involved in planning suicide bombing attacks in the region.
　
A post-strike assessment by a combined Afghan and coalition security force confirmed no civilians had been injured and no civilian property had been damaged during of the operation.
　
In operations today:
-- A combined force in Ghazni province's Gelan district arrested an al-Qaida-associated Taliban insurgent who assisted in the movement of al-Qaida fighters throughout the region and conducted attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. Prior to his arrest, he was attempting to acquire explosives for future attacks. The security force also detained another suspected insurgent and seized bomb-making materials.
　
-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents in Logar province's Baraki Barak district during a search for a Taliban leader who plans and executes attacks against coalition patrols.
　
In other news, a combined force in the Kabul district of Kabul province yesterday arrested the insurgent leader responsible for a July 12 bomb attack that killed Hanifa Safi, the Afghan minister for female affairs. The attack occurred in Lagham province's Mehtar Lam district.
　
In an Aug. 19 operation, an Afghan crisis response unit supported by coalition troops arrested several insurgents in Wardak province's Sayyid Abad district. The insurgents are responsible for recent attempts to abduct Afghan interpreters working for the International Security Assistance Force, and were planning to kidnap Afghan and civilian ISAF employees.

KEEPING DRUG MONEY FROM THE TALIBAN

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Members of the 455th Expeditionary Aerial Port Squadron prepare to unload a C-17 Globemaster III during a relief in place/transfer of authority mission March 20, 2012, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The RIP/TOA moved more than 17,000 passengers and 4,000 tons of cargo and allowed 1st Infantry Division to settle into their new mission of working with the Afghan government and Afghan National Security Forces. U.S. Air Force photo, Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom
　
Joint Task Force Aims to Keep Drug Money From Taliban
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 20, 2012 - Corruption is not inevitable in Afghanistan, but is a more recent phenomenon caused by 30 years of war, a coalition officer said here today.
　
And with coalition help, the Afghan government is making progress against it, said Col. Paul Van Den Broek, a New Zealand soldier in charge of Joint Task Force Shafafiyat – a Dari and Pashto word meaning "transparency."
　
"Will it be fast? No. But it is happening," the colonel told reporters traveling with Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who met with Afghan and coalition leaders here today.
　
The Afghan government suggested the need for the task force, the colonel said, to reduce corruption so it does not present a "fatal threat" to the viability of the Afghan state.
　
That threat does exist now, the colonel added, and at its heart is the nexus of drugs and the Taliban.
　
The Taliban provide land for farmers to grow poppies, they provide the workers, they tax the product, and they provide protection, run the laboratories and then traffic the narcotics, he explained.
　
"To the Taliban, it is key money that they need to operate in the war," the colonel said. "It is a case of narcotics leaving Afghanistan in exchange for lethal aid coming in."
　
Van Den Broek likened the situation to insurgents in Colombia using cocaine to fund operations or the Irish Republican Army using racketeering to pay for arms and bombs.
　
Not all narcotics rings in Afghanistan are run by the Taliban, the colonel said, noting that other criminal networks operate in the country. But the Taliban simply cannot operate without drugs and the money they bring in, he added.
　
This, Van Den Broek said, is where his task force gets involved. "There has been progress made in bringing down these networks," he said.
　
Still, he acknowledged, the threat remains, and he quoted a Taliban shadow governor as saying "Where there is poppy, there is Taliban. Where there is no poppy, there is no Taliban."
　
"We are working to make sure there is no Taliban," the colonel said.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN AUGUST 15, 2012

Photo:  Bullet Riddled Building in Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. Navy.

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Combined Force Arrests Taliban Weapons, Explosives Dealer

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 15, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban weapons dealer in the Sangin district of Afghanistan's Helmand province today, military officials said.

The weapons dealer provided homemade explosives and other bomb-making material to Taliban fighters.

He also was involved in plans to smuggle a large quantity of explosives into the region for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

The security force also detained two suspected insurgents during the operation.
Also today, in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader who recruited fighters and provided them with weapons and explosives for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The force also detained several suspects during the operation.
In operations yesterday:
In the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, a combined force conducted a precision airstrike against insurgents. The force confirmed the strike killed one insurgent and did not injure any civilians or damage civilian property.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN AUGUST 13, 2012

Photo Credit:  U.S. Navy
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Combined Force Arrests Senior Insurgent Leader
Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan terrorist group leader in the Chahar Darah district of Afghanistan's Kunduz province today, military officials reported.

The insurgent leader directed improvised explosive device attacks in Kunduz province. He also acquired IEDs, weapons and rockets and distributed them to insurgents throughout the region, officials said.

The security force also detained two additional suspected insurgents and seized IED-making components during the operation, officials said.

In other operations today:
-- In the Chimtal district of Balkh province, a combined force detained several suspects during an operation to arrest a Taliban weapons supplier. The weapons supplier provides machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and IEDs to insurgents in the district.

-- A combined force arrested a Taliban-affiliated insurgent who coordinated insurgent activity in the Kandahar district of Kandahar province. He also acquired IED-making components for Taliban fighters in the area. The security force also detained one suspect during the operation.

-- In the Nawah-e Barakzai district of Helmand province, a combined force detained several suspects during an operation to arrest a Taliban explosives expert. The insurgent explosives expert operates throughout central Helmand, acquiring, constructing and distributing IEDs to insurgents.

-- In the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province, an Afghan-led, coalition supported security force arrested a Taliban leader responsible for multiple attacks on Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In the Sabari district of Khost province, an Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained several suspects and seized multiple weapons.

In operations yesterday:
-- A precision airstrike killed multiple insurgents during a combined force operation against insurgents operating in combined force the Watahpur district of Kunar province. The airstrike caused no civilians injuries or property damage.

-- A combined force detained three suspects in the Gelan district of Ghazni province.

-- Also in the Gelan district of Ghazni province, another combined force detained multiple suspects and seized explosives during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader. The leader plans and directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The explosives were safely destroyed by the security force.

-- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force arrested multiple insurgents during an operation in Kabul. The security force arrested the insurgents as they were finalizing plans for an attack in the Afghan capital. The security force also seized a large cache of explosives, suicide vest components, weapons and ammunition.

In an Aug. 11 operation, combined force discovered an insurgent bomb-making facility and seized more than 400 pounds of explosives, some IED-making components and detained one suspect in the Muqer district of Ghazni province.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGANISTAN AUGUST 10, 2012

011226-N-2383B-506 KANDAHAR (December 26, 2001) -- A U.S. Marine continues to stand watch as the sun sets at a forward operating base in Kandahar, Afghanistan. U.S. Marines are deployed to the U.S. Central Command region in support of Operation Enduring Freedom U.S. Navy Photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera (Released)
　
FROM: U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Combined Force Detains Numerous Suspected Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force detained numerous suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Haqqani leader in the Shwak district of Afghanistan's Paktiya province today, military officials reported.

The Haqqani leader is responsible for facilitating attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district, officials said.

Also today, a combined force detained one suspect during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Chimtal district of Balkh province. The sought-after Taliban leader directs attacks against Afghan security forces throughout the region. He is also responsible for conducting attacks against reconstruction projects in the province.

In Aug. 9 operations:
-- A combined force found and cleared an improvised explosive device in Ghanzi province's Ghazni district.

-- A combined force killed an insurgent in Kapisa province's Tagab district.

-- A combined force detained two insurgents in Khowst province's Gurbuz district.

-- A combined force killed one insurgent and detained two others in Laghman province's Mehtar Lam district.

-- A combined force detained an insurgent who was emplacing an IED in Logar province's Muhammad Aghah district.

-- In Nangarhar province, a combined force found and cleared one IED in the Jalalabad district and another in the Khugyani district.

-- In Paktika province, a combined force found and cleared an IED in the Sar Rowzah district.

-- In Paktiya province, a combined force found and cleared an IED in the Zurmat district.

-- In Parwan province, a combined force discovered a weapons cache containing 18 rockets in the Bagram district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Wardak province's Sayyidabad district.

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN AUGUST 9, 2012

Photo Credit:  U.S. Army
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Combined Force Arrests Taliban-affiliated InsurgentCompiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2012 - In the Andar district of Afghanistan's Ghazni province, an Afghan and coalition security force today arrested a Taliban-affiliated insurgent responsible for acquiring and emplacing improvised explosive devices along Highway 1, military officials reported.

The Taliban-affiliated insurgent also is responsible for several rocket attacks against Afghan and coalition convoys in the region, officials said.

At the time of his arrest, officials said, the insurgent was actively planning to conduct several more IED attacks along Highway 1, and also was planning to kidnap an Afghan government official.

The security force also detained two suspected insurgents during the operation, officials said.

In other operations today:
-- In the Now Zad district of Helmand province, a combined force detained several suspects and seized several assault rifles during an operation to arrest a Taliban explosives cell leader. The Taliban leader controls an insurgent cell specializing in IEDs and suicide attacks.

-- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force detained numerous suspects during an operation to arrest a Taliban weapons supplier in the Zharay district of Kandahar province.

-- In the Zharay district of Kandahar province, a combined force detained multiple suspects and seized more than 100 fake IDs during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader. The sought-after Taliban leader is responsible for providing operational guidance to insurgent fighters, as well as planning attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force killed two insurgents, detained several suspects and seized several firearms during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Baraki Barak district of Logar province. The sought-after Taliban leader builds and emplaces IEDs that are used throughout the region. He also acquires heavy weapons and assault rifles for Taliban insurgents.

In operations yesterday:
-- A combined force killed three insurgents in Ghazni province's Ab Band district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Kapisa province's Nejrab district.

-- In Khost province, a combined force found and cleared one IED in the Sabari district and another in the Bak district.

-- A combined force killed three insurgents in Kunar province's Nari district.

-- In Logar province, a combined force found and cleared an IED in the Pul-e Alam district.

-- A coalition airstrike killed two insurgents in Logar province's Kharwar district.

-- In Nangarhar province, a combined force detained an insurgent who was emplacing an IED in the Bati Kot district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Paktika province's Orgun district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Paktia province's Gardez district.

-- Also in Paktia province, a combined force detained two insurgents who were found in possession of suspicious materials in the Shwak district.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN AUGUST 8, 2012

Photo:  Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Combined Force Arrests Taliban Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Afghanistan's Helmand province today, military officials reported.


The Taliban leader controlled an insurgent cell responsible for multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region, officials said.


At the time of his arrest, officials said, the Taliban leader was in the process of acquiring heavy weapons and explosives for future attacks.


The security force also detained one suspected insurgent during the operation, officials said.


In other operations today:
-- In the Chimtal district of Balkh province, a combined force detained one suspect during a search for a senior Taliban leader. The senior leader funds insurgent operations and coordinates attacks throughout the district.

-- A combined force detained numerous suspects during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province. The Taliban leader oversees insurgent activity in the area and provides heavy weapons, improvised explosive devices and ammunition to Taliban-associated insurgents throughout the district.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Muqer district of Ghazni province. The Taliban leader is responsible for coordinating Taliban attacks throughout the area.

In other news, officials announced yesterday that Haji Shakur, a Taliban leader in the Chora and Baluchi districts of Uruzgan province, was one of the suspects arrested during a July 31 operation in the Tarin Kot district of Uruzgan province. The operation was conducted by an Afghan security force supported by coalition troops.

Shakur was a mid-level Taliban leader who controlled dozens of insurgent fighters and is responsible for conducting a number of insurgent attacks in both Chora and Baluchi districts. He provided those under his control with ammunition and weapons, and was involved in recruiting local Afghans from the area for the Taliban.

Shakur was also an explosives expert responsible for building IEDs used to attack Afghan and coalition forces.

In operations around Afghanistan yesterday:

-- A combined force detained an insurgent during a route clearance operation in Ghanzi province's Gelan district.

-- In Ghanzi province, a combined force killed an insurgent during a small-arms engagement in the Muqer district.

-- In Kapisa province, a coalition airstrike killed 10 insurgents in the Tagab district.

-- In Khost province, a combined force found and cleared an IED in the Sabari district and another in the Terezayi district.

-- A combined force killed six insurgents during a small-arms engagement in Logar province's Kharwar district.

-- In Logar province's Baraki Barak district, a combined force killed an insurgent who was emplacing an IED.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Nangarhar province's Rodat district.

-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Paktika province's Bermal district.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN JULY 10, 2012

Photo:  Security Forces On Watch In Afghanistan.  From:  U.S. Air Force. 
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Combined Force Kills Several Insurgents
Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases
WASHINGTON, July 10, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents during a search for the leader of a Taliban attack cell in the Chimtal district of Afghanistan's Balkh province today, military officials reported.

During the operation, a group of insurgents attacked the combined force, officials said. The force returned fire, killing all of the attackers. As the force continued its mission, another armed individual approached and threatened the force, officials said. The armed insurgent was killed by the security force.
Officials said the operation also resulted in the detention of a suspected insurgent and the seizure of multiple weapons.

In operations yesterday:
-- A combined force in the Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province detained a Taliban military chief who specialized in planning and carrying out improvised explosive device and suicide attacks.
-- A coalition airstrike killed an insurgent in Ghazni province's Muqer district.
-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Ghazni's Giro district.
-- Combined forces killed three insurgents in a firefight, killed four other insurgents during an airstrike, and detained a suspect during separate operations in Ghazni's Ab Band district.
-- A combined force detained an insurgent in Ghazni's Waghaz district.
-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Ghazni's Qarah Bagh district.
-- In the Barak district of Logar province, a combined force found and cleared two IEDs.
-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Nangarhar province's Pachir Wa Agam district.
-- In Nangarhar's Nazyan district, a combined force found and cleared an IED.
-- A combined force detained an insurgent in Wardak province's Sayyidabad district.
In a July 7 operation, a combined force detained two Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leaders and two other suspects in the Kunduz district of Kunduz province. The detained IMU leaders were directly involved in the construction of IEDs and their use in insurgent attacks. Both leaders are associated with senior IMU leadership and participated in high-profile suicide attack planning, including a failed attack in January, officials said.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN

Photo:  F-15E refueling over Afghanistan.   Credit:  U.S. Air Force.
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Combined Force Detains Haqqani Leader
Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases
WASHINGTON, July 9, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Haqqani network leader in the Terayzai district of Afghanistan's Khost province today, military officials reported.
The detained Haqqani leader specializes in high-profile attacks and reported directly to senior Haqqani leaders, officials said.
At the time of his arrest, officials said, the Haqqani leader was equipping his followers with military uniforms for a planned attack on an Afghan government facility. The security force also detained several suspected insurgents and seized multiple firearms during the operation, officials said.

In other Afghanistan news today:
-- A combined force detained a Taliban leader and also detained multiple suspects and seized bomb-making materials in the Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province. The insurgent leader coordinated Taliban attacks throughout northern Kunduz province, specializing in the use of improvised explosive device attacks and the recruitment and training of suicide attackers.

-- A combined force detained a Taliban explosives expert and two other suspects in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province. The detained insurgent acquired, constructed, and emplaced IEDs for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
-- In the Musa Qalah district of Helmand province, a combined force detained multiple suspects and seized explosives and weapons during a search for a senior Taliban leader. The sought-after Taliban leader is responsible for planning and executing IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force called in an airstrike that killed an insurgent during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Maidan Shahr district of Wardak province. The security force confirmed the airstrike had not injured any civilians.
-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Ghazni province's Gelan district.
-- A combined force detained an insurgent in the Khost district of Khost province.
-- In Khost province's Terezayi district, a combined force found and cleared an IED.
-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Laghman province's Mehtar Lam district.
-- In Logar province's Muhammad Aghah district, a combined force found and cleared an IED.

-- In Nangarhar province, a combined force found and cleared two IEDs in the Shinwar district and one in the Surkh Rod district.
-- In Nangarhar province's Shinwar district, a combined force detained an insurgent.
In operations yesterday:
-- Coalition forces detained numerous suspects and seized about 3,500 pounds of opium and 17 pounds of heroin in the Garm Ser district of Helmand province.
-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a senior Taliban recruiter in the Now Zad district of Helmand province. The insurgent recruiter serves as a Taliban leader in the Washer district and operates with other Taliban leaders.
-- A combined force detained a suspect during a search for a Taliban leader in the Rashidan district of Ghazni province. The sought-after Taliban leader controls more than 50 insurgents and has directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
In July 7 operations:

-- A combined force seized and destroyed more than 3,300 pounds of opium and hashish and detained numerous suspected drug traffickers in the Registan district of Kandahar province.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in the Kunduz district of Kunduz province. The IMU leader is an explosives expert who specializes in making IEDs and other devices for use in suicide and other types of attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Taliban explosives specialist in the Zharay district of Kandahar province.
-- In the Gelan district of Ghazni province, a combined force detained an insurgent, found a cache contained small-arms ammunition, grenades and other IED-making materials, and cleared an IED.

-- In Ghazni province's Ghazni district, a combined force found and cleared an IED.
-- A combined force detained an insurgent and seized a cache containing small-arms ammunition, military items and IED-making materials in Khost province's Khost district.
-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in the Gurbuz district of Khost province.
-- In Khost province's Sabari district, a combined force detained seven insurgents.
-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Laghman province's Mehtar Lam district.

-- In Paktika province's Sar Rowzah district, a combined force found and cleared an IED.
-- A combined force found and cleared an IED in Paktia province's Shwak district.

NEWS FROM ISAF IN AFGHANISTAN JULY 5, 2012

Photo:  Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force.
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Combined Force Detains Taliban Weapons Supplier
Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases
WASHINGTON, July 5, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban weapons supplier in the Chimtal district of Afghanistan's Balkh province today, military officials reported.

The weapons supplier provided firearms, explosives and improvised explosive devices to Taliban insurgents throughout the region, officials said. At the time of his arrest, he was in the process of acquiring IEDs for upcoming attacks.

The security force also detained another suspected insurgent during the operation, officials said.

Also today, officials confirmed that Taliban leader Nek Mohammad was killed July 1 in the Sar-e Pul district of Sar-e Pul province. Mohammad had served as a senior Taliban leader in the region and directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

Officials also confirmed today that a Taliban leader known as Hamza was killed July 2 in the Ghazni district of Ghazni province. Hamza had managed several Taliban insurgents and coordinated attacks with other Taliban leaders throughout the region.
In operations around Afghanistan today:

-- A combined force in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province apprehended a Taliban leader and detained two other insurgents. The detained Taliban leader led an attack cell and coordinated high-profile attacks. At the time of his arrest, he was attempting to acquire suicide vests and more than 110 pounds of explosives.

-- A combined force detained a Taliban leader and several other suspects in the Pul-e Alam district of Logar province. The apprehended Taliban leader was responsible for attacks against coalition security patrols throughout the region and the killing of multiple Afghan soldiers in May.

In operations yesterday:
-- A combined force seized more than 40 pounds of opium during a search for a Taliban leader in Kandahar's Panjwai district.

-- A combined force discovered and cleared two IEDs, one in Ghazni province's Ab Band District and another in the province's Qarah Bagh district.

-- A combined force killed two insurgents and detained three others in Ghazni province's Dehyak district.

-- A combined force killed an insurgent in Khost province's Qalandar district, and another combined force found and cleared an IED in the province's Khost district.

-- Combined forces found and cleared two IEDs in Paktika province's Sar Rowzah district and another in the province's Wazah Kwah district.

-- A combined force killed five insurgents and detained a suspect in Paktia province's Lajah Ahmadkhel district.

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN JUNE 28, 2012

Photo:  Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force.
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Combined Force Detains Taliban Leader

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

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

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

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

In other Afghanistan operations today:

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

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

In June 27 operations:

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

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

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

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

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

ISAF JOINT COMMAND REPORT FROM AFGHANISTAN: JUNE 25, 2012

Photo:  F-15E Refueling Over Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force.

FROM:  AMERICAN 

FORCES PRESS SERVICE 

Combined Force Detains Taliban Explosives Expert

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban explosives expert in the Gardez district of Afghanistan's Paktia province yesterday, military officials reported.

The detained explosives expert led bomb-attack network, trained insurgents throughout the region, and was responsible for several attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

The security force seized a pistol, a grenade launcher, rocket-propelled grenades, explosives and bomb components.

Also yesterday, an Afghan-led security force supported by coalition troops detained several suspected insurgents and seized assault rifles, mortar equipment and ammunition during an operation to detain a Haqqani network leader in Khost province's Sabari district. The Haqqani leader has been directly involved in attacks against coalition forces in the area.

In June 23 Afghanistan operations:

-- An Afghan-led security force in Kandahar province's Maiwand district, supported by coalition troops, apprehended a Taliban leader responsible for bomb attacks against coalition forces in Kandahar and Helmand provinces. The security force detained an additional suspected insurgent in the operation.

-- In Zabul province's Tarnak wa Jaldak district, an Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader who participated in direct-fire and roadside-bomb attacks and distributed weapons and other aid to insurgents. The security force detained another suspect in the operation and seized explosives and bomb components.

AFGHANISTAN: INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE PRESS RELEASE JUNE 18, 2012

Map Credit:  U.S. State Department

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE 

Combined Force Detains Taliban Leader in Helmand

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, June 18, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force in the Nad-e Ali district of Afghanistan's Helmand province detained one of the senior Taliban leaders for the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province yesterday, military officials reported.


The leader controlled several insurgent cells throughout southern Afghanistan and coordinated the construction and use of homemade explosives and bombs for attacks against coalition and Afghan forces.
The combined force also detained another suspected insurgent.


Also yesterday, an Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents and seized assault rifles and bomb components during an operation to detain a Taliban leader in Kandahar's Panjwai district. The leader is responsible for multiple attacks against coalition forces in the region, and supplies insurgents with weapons, explosives and ammunition.
In June 16 operations:


-- A combined security force detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader in Ghazni province's Ghazni district who was directly involved in multiple attacks against coalition and Afghan forces in the region.


-- In the Jani Khel district of Paktia province, a combined force detained several suspected insurgents and seized ammunition and assault rifles while searching for a Haqqani network leader responsible for supplying, coordinating and directing attacks against Afghan and coalition troops throughout the Jani Khel and Tsamkani districts.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PANETTA ADDRESSES TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta June 07, 2012
Remarks by Secretary Panetta to International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC) Troops in Afghanistan
           
SECRETARY LEON PANETTA:  Good to be with you.  This is -- this is my fourth trip to Afghanistan as secretary of defense.  And as always, the greatest -- the greatest thing that I experience in this job as defense secretary is the chance to be able to go out and to see the men and women in uniform that serve our country.  You guys are the best.  And I want to thank you.

            On behalf of the American people, I want to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice.  You've done everything that your country has asked you to do.  And the result is, frankly, that after 10 years of war, you know, we are at a turning point.  And it's because there have been those that have been willing to put their lives on the line.  That's been the key to our ability to move forward, to bring the mission in Iraq to an end and to now, hopefully, be able to accomplish the mission here in Afghanistan as well.

            One thing that I've seen is that because of the great leadership here -- General Allen, Ambassador Crocker, all of the fine commanders that are here and all of you -- we put a very good plan into place to try to accomplish this mission.  And you know, we -- we've been able to put what was a difficult and, in some ways, impossible challenge -- we've been able to put this country in the right direction.

            The reality is we have weakened the Taliban.  There's an uptick obviously, as we all expected, but the level of violence still remains down from the past.  The reason for that is that we've taken the battle to them.  And that's what you have to do.  And you've done that.  We've been able to get the Afghan security force to engage, to be a part of the operations, to assume responsibility for security and to be able to provide what is absolutely important for this country:  a force that can help secure this country.

            We've been able to transition areas to Afghan security and control.  We now have 50 percent of their population under their security and control, and the next tranche of areas is going to have about 75 percent of their population under Afghan security control.  So we're headed in the right direction, and it's because of great leadership, but more importantly it's because of you and what you've been willing to do on behalf of our country.

            I know this is not -- this is still not going to be an easy fight.  We still have a lot of challenges to confront.  We've got a resilient enemy that's going to try to use any tactic they can to come at us.  We're also dealing with a safe haven in which Haqqani forces can move across that border and then go back into their safe havens.  And very frankly, we have every responsibility to defend ourselves.  And we are going to make very clear that we are prepared to take them on.  And we've got to put pressure on Pakistan to take them on as well.

            What happened the other day in Salerno is an indication that they're going to continue to try to come at us.  Let me be very clear, they're -- anybody who attacks U.S. soldiers is our enemy, and we're not going to take it.  We have got to be able to defend ourselves.  What you're -- you've been doing, you take the battle to them, and that's what counts.  And we've got to make sure that we continue to put pressure to move this effort forward so that we accomplish the mission here.

            Now the mission is an Afghanistan that can secure and govern itself so that the Taliban and terrorists and al-Qaida never again can establish a safe haven here from which to attack our country.  And let me be very clear with all of you.  You know, it's -- I know, you know, there's a lot of sacrifice and service that's involved here.  This is not just about Afghanistan.  This is about protecting the American people, protecting those we love so that they are never again attacked by a terrorist enemy that would go after our country.  We sent a very clear message:  Nobody attacks America and gets away with it.  Nobody attacks America and gets away with it.

            And because of you, because of what you've been willing to do, because of your service, because of your sacrifice and because, frankly, of the sacrifice of your families that have provided the necessary support for all of you to be able to do what you do, that is our great strength.  I'm very proud of our military.  We have the strongest military in the world.  I've got -- we've got great weapons.  We've got great technology.  We've got great services.  We've got great capabilities.  But the strength of the United States military are the men and women in uniform that are willing to serve our country.  That's our great strength, and that's what makes us the strongest military power in the world.

            Everywhere I've gone this trip -- and I've gone to a lot of interesting places; I went to Singapore to talk to the -- the conference there, the Shangri-La Dialogue, to talk about our strategy for what we're doing and where we intend to go in the 21st century.  I went to Vietnam, was in Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam -- first secretary of defense to go into Cam Rank Bay since the war -- sit down with the Vietnamese and talk about an effort to see if we can move forward together, develop their capabilities.  I just was in India talking about the same issue.  Everywhere I go, I have to tell you, there is tremendous respect for United States military because of our ability to get the job done.  We keep our focus, we keep our eye on the -- on the objective and we get it done.

            And so I just want to say thank you.  Thank you for what you're willing to do.  I thank your families for what they're willing to do.  I've told you what this fundamental mission is all about.  It's about not just giving Afghanistan the opportunity to have a better life for their children, it is about making sure that we give our children a better life for the future.  So thank you for your service, thank you for your sacrifice.  God bless you for what you're doing.  Thank you.

           

PENTAGON SPOKESMAN SAYS TALIBAN MOMENTUM THWARTED AND THRUST BACK

Photo:  U.S. Department of Defense
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Taliban on Their Heels, Pentagon

Spokesman Says

By Jim Garamone

WASHINGTON, May 7, 2012 - Coalition and Afghan forces have reversed the Taliban's momentum and will continue to build on that success, a senior Pentagon spokesman said today.

"The Taliban's momentum has not only been thwarted, it's been thrust back," Navy Capt. John Kirby told reporters. "We believe they are in a much weaker position."

In December 2009, President Barack Obama announced a surge of 33,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. These forces, deployed mostly in the south, took the fight to the Taliban and their terrorist allies.

Training for Afghan forces proceeded apace, and the number of forces will reach 352,000 later this summer. Even with the withdrawal of 10,000 American troops in December 2011 and another 23,000 by the end of September 2012, more forces are facing the Taliban threat.

"The Taliban [are] in a much weaker position as we head into this spring than they were as little as a year ago," Kirby said.

U.S., coalition and Afghan forces were very active during the winter months – when the Taliban typically go underground – and this has paid off as the fighting season proceeds.

Even high-profile Taliban attacks are not reversing the tide against the organization, Kirby said. "Just take a look at the high-profile attacks, or the attempted attacks, that they've tried in the last month," he said, noting "a lot of ballyhoo" over a coordinated attack in and around the Afghan capital of Kabul on April 15.

"It was over by the next morning," he said. Another attempted attack in the hours after Obama's visit to Afghanistan last week was "completely ineffective," he added.

U.S. officials believe the Taliban are on their heels. "It is much more difficult for them to move around, to resource, to plan and execute," Kirby said, though he added it's too early to count the Taliban out.

"They are still a resilient, determined enemy," he said. "We understand that. But we really do believe that we have wrested the momentum from the Taliban."

AFGHAN FORCES CONTAIN TALIBAN ATTACK

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Afghan Forces Contain Taliban Attack in Kabul
Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases
WASHINGTON, May 2, 2012 - Afghan security forces led a capable and quick response in containing a Taliban attack in Afghanistan's capital of Kabul today, military officials reported.

All of the attackers were killed, officials said. According to initial International Security Assistance Force reporting, a small group of insurgents attacked a private compound. The attack was unsuccessful in killing any ISAF personnel, but it resulted in Afghan civilian casualties, including children.

"This is another desperate attack by the Taliban, but again another noteworthy performance by Afghan security forces for taking the lead in putting down another desperate attack by insurgents," said German army Brig. Gen. Carsten Jacobson, ISAF spokesman. The insurgents' attack "resulted in the deaths of innocent Afghan civilians, with most of that being children from a nearby school," Jacobson added.
In operations around Afghanistan today:

-- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force killed an insurgent, detained several suspects and seized assault rifles, magazines with ammunition, and multiple grenades and rocket-propelled grenades during a mission to capture a Taliban leader in the Baghlan-e Jadid district of Baghlan province.

-- A combined force detained a Taliban leader as well as multiple insurgents and confiscated bomb-making materials in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province. The insurgent leader directed roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force detained several suspects while searching for a Taliban leader in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province. The leader plans and coordinates roadside bombings, suicide attacks and other operations against Afghan and coalition forces. He also attempts to impose Taliban law on Afghan civilians in the Musa Qalah, Now Zad and Baghran districts.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader and another suspect in the Gelan district of Ghazni province. The insurgent leader conducted roadside-bomb attacks against Afghan civilians, Afghan security forces and coalition troops along Highway 1.

-- A combined force detained multiple suspects and seized a manual for constructing improvised explosive devices during an operation to capture a Haqqani network facilitator in the Muhammad Aghah district of Logar province. The facilitator provides weapons, ammunition and equipment to insurgents for attacks against Afghan officials, Afghan troops, and coalition forces in Kabul City.

-- A combined force detained multiple suspects and seized several weapons and a grenade during an operation to capture a Haqqani facilitator in the Sabari district of Khost province. The facilitator provides weapons, ammunition and IEDs to insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
Yesterday, a combined force found and destroyed about 2,035 pounds of homemade explosive materials and multiple IED-making components in the Ab Band district of Ghazni province.