Dear Interested Reader,
BBC helps us out with two stories about preparations for the Aug 20 presidential election, and the indomitable human spirit that refuses to cave to the demands of the Taliban. Inspection checkpoint near FOB Joyce, Konar prov. Khost PRT helps with reconstruction.
Iraq: FP train with their own working dogs, and perform a humanitarian mission in Mosul. FP officers take part in a U.S. Army Combatives Course on FOB Falcon. Solar panels power Baghdad health clinics.
Joanna
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August 18, 2009
BBC News, Kandahar, Afghanistan
Kandahar dreamers test Taliban edicts
By M. Ilyas Khan
Fazal Anis is prepared to risk the wrath of the Taliban to produce TV dramas.
Nearly everyone who lives in Kandahar city, the capital of Afghanistan's southern prov. by the same name, has acquaintances among the local Taliban militants. Fazal Anis is one of them. "We're all people from the same area, and Taliban also have good intel inside the city, so they know who's who," he says.
Mr. Anis has been hosting music shows for 2 Kandahar-based television stations for some time, and is now setting up the city's first audio-visual studios where television plays would be produced.
Taliban consider music and television viewing as un-Islamic, and have often spoken to him by telephone about his plans, without overtly threatening him. "Their message is clear, though, that I should give up my plans, but producing television dramas has been my dream since I was living in the Pakistani city of Quetta as a refugee," he says.
Kandahar, once a major center of arts and culture, has many dreamers like Mr Anis.
Naimatullah Zalmay playing chess, another activity the Taliban considers un-Islamic.
In the soothing, a/c atmosphere of Kandahar Coffee Shop - a trendy café with a small library and a billiards parlour - a group of old and young people sit quietly around a table, watching 2 of them play a game of chess.
One of the players is Naimatullah Zalmay, the head of Kandahar's chess players' assn. He's been playing chess for 35 years, he says, and is among the 14-member national chess team recently selected to play in int'l competitions. But like music and TV, chess is also considered un-Islamic by the Taliban, and the country's powerful conservative clerics. When I ask him if he feels threatened by the Taliban, he gives me a wry smile. "The Taliban's position on the issue is well known, but what do you do when a high official close to our democratic president opposes our request for funds on grounds that we are indulging in un-Islamic activities?"
He doesn't name names, but one of his colleagues later tells me he was referring to Fazl Shinwari, chief justice of Afghanistan until August 2006 and still considered close to President Hamid Karzai.
During the seven years of Mr Karzai's rule, Kandahar city has developed by leaps and bounds. Multi-storey trade centers have appeared all over the place. Roads and streets have been built, and most commercial streets now have wide, tiled pavements.
Isaf patrols often require civilian traffic to pull up at the side of the road.
The gov. of Kandahar prov., Tooryalai Wesa, admits that his govt has not been able to break the Taliban stranglehold in some parts of the prov. The Taliban have comparatively greater freedom to operate in the provs of Helmand to the west, Uruzgan to the north and Zabul to the northeast of Kandahar. Together, the 4 provs form the lawless south of Afghanistan. If they fail, then Kandaharis hope for greater stability in the future.
Many are willing to have close brushes with the Taliban to achieve this. Abdullah Abdali, a television actor, has been doing govt-sponsored stage shows for public awareness in some of the most dangerous corners of the south. Last year he went to Uruzgan to act in a play on drugs awareness. "Going there was no problem, but once we had appeared on the stage, we felt exposed and did not feel safe to return to Kandahar by road," he says. "We waited 3 days for a US forces convoy to roll out to Kandahar, and followed it." Early this month, he did a 6-day election awareness show in Qalat, the capital of Zabul, and again took safety precautions on the return journey. "We told our hosts - the district election commission - that we're staying the night and would leave for Kandahar the next day. Then we went out, quietly jumped into our van and left. You never know who will inform the Taliban that we are coming."
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BBC News, Kandahar
Preparations in Afghanistan for Thursday's election
Notorious ex-warlord Gen. Abdul Dostum endorsed incumbent President Hamid Karzai at a rally, after flying in from exile in Turkey.
The last day of campaigning is taking place ahead of Aug. 20 presidential election, which Taliban militants have threatened to disrupt.
Mr. Karzai faces over 30 challengers, but is seen as the frontrunner in the race. Two of Mr. Karzai's main rivals, who formerly served under him as ministers, also held their own final rallies.
In the capital Kabul, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, addressed a crowd of 10,000 supporters, many wearing blue shifts or waving blue flags.
The ex-Finance Minister, Ashraf Ghani, addressed a rally of 5,000 in the eastern Nangarhar prov. Mr Ghani, who's running on a campaign of economic development, vowed to replace the "corrupt govt with a legitimate one", according to French news agency, AFP.
In a live televised election debate on Sunday, Mr Karzai defended his alliances with several Afghan warlords, saying they served the interests of national unity.
The BBC's Ian Pannell in Afghanistan says that there is evidence of corruption, but above all it is the ongoing war with the Taliban - within at least a third of the country - that makes this election far from normal.
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55th Combat Camera RSS
Inspection Checkpoint
Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith
Army Staff Sgt. James Lopez, A Co, 1st Bn, 32nd Inf Regt, mans a vehicle inspection checkpoint near FOB Joyce, Konar prov., Aug. 12. U.S. Soldiers and Afghan NSF are working together to provide increased security ahead of the presidential election, Aug. 20.
Army Soldiers from A Co, man a vehicle inspection checkpoint.
Cpl. Jeffrey Sutton, mans a traffic control point.
Afghan men exit their vehicle at an inspection checkpoint.
ANP share a breakfast of flat bread and chai tea at their outpost.
Army Soldiers from A Co. gather for a patrol briefing on FOB Joyce. The Soldiers were preparing to conduct a vehicle checkpoint.
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Special to American Forces Press Service
U.S. Team Helps Develop Afghanistan’s Future
By Army Sgt. Warren Wright, Jr.
Army 2nd Lt. Aaron Croft, civil affairs team leader for the Khost PRT, talks with local children during a visit to one of the 15 schools being constructed under the team’s supervision in Khost prov., Aug. 4, 2009.
KHOST PROVINCE – The PRT is working to build a better future for Afghans. The team’s mission is to assist Afghans with various projects, including the construction of hospitals, schools and roads, to better their living conditions, said team leader Army Sgt. Terry Cochran.
Along with their construction mission, the team also ensures that facilities continue operating long after they’re built. “We’re not focusing on the number of projects as much as we used to; those days are changing,” said Army Lt. Col. Robert Cooley, the team’s dep. comm. officer. “We’re really trying to build the capacity and sustainability on the inside, by making sure they've the doctors and teachers necessary to sustain those facilities.”
The reconstruction team is made up of Army SECFOR and civil affairs specialists, State Dept reps and Navy engrs. They work closely with Khost govt officials on a routine basis to make sure the Afghan people’s needs are being met. With a mix of active and reserve sailors and soldiers with various backgrounds and expertise, the team has a range of experience and info that members can tap into to help fix any problem that may arise, Cochran said. “We interact with them; we help them; we give them the supplies they need,” said Army Spc. Gilbert Smook, who provides dismount security for the team.
Team members work with the Afghan govt to help Afghans implement ways to help themselves, said Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David Skagen, master at arms for the team. “I think we’re going to make a big difference within the time frame that we’re going to be here,” Skagen said.
Soldiers speak with Afghan children Aug. 4, 2009, during a visit to one of the 15 schools being constructed under the team’s supervision.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Arvin Aure, a hospital corpsman shakes hands with Afghan children.
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DoD Imagery
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Eladio Avelino cleans a .50-caliber machine gun at FOB Geronimo in the Nawa district of Helmand prov., Aug. 12, 2009. Avelino is a motor transport operator deployed with the 1st Bn, 5th Marine Regt. The Marines are conducting security patrols in the area to speak with residents to identify their issues and concerns. The 1st Bn, 5th Marine Regt is deployed with RCT 3, which conducts counter insurgency ops in partnership with ANSF in southern Afghanistan.
(DoD photo by Lance Cpl. John McCall, Marine Corps)
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Multi-National Division - North PAO
Iraqi Police train with their own working dogs
IP dog handlers work with their dogs on basic obedience techniques.
(Army Photo by Sgt. Christopher Kozloski)
MOSUL - Chew toys and leashes in hand, IP dog handlers and their working dogs arrived at FOB Marez, Aug. 16, to fine tune their skill in basic obedience and explosive detection techniques. The class is part 2 of initial dog training that the IP received earlier in the year.
The initial training consisted of introducing the IP to working dogs as a resource, something the IPs didn't have until now. In the last month, they acquired military working dogs and created a K9
program to utilize these dogs in their everyday working environment.
"The IPs have a valuable asset now. A dog's nose is so much stronger than ours," said Navy Master at Arms 1st Class Matthew Nalley, lead instructor for the program. "I can't smell explosives when I'm walking down the road. These dogs can. If the IP have something that can give them an indication that something is wrong, it can go a long way to help them out."
The IPs and their dogs both showed excitement as they began the training session with basic obedience techniques. Each IP practiced getting their dogs to sit and stay in place. When the dogs performed,
they were rewarded with a rubber chew toy and praise. Both handler and dog seemed to be catching on quickly.
"I was thoroughly impressed with the way they have responded to their dogs. The dogs that they have want to be loyal and work with their handlers," said Nalley, "You can definitely tell that they're
building their relationship with their dogs."
For these IPs, this is the start of a long working relationship with their dogs. When asked why he chose to get involved with the K9 program, one of the IP handlers said that he had an affinity to dogs and felt that it would be a valuable resource to help sustain security and prevent attacks in his community.
An IP dog handler instructs his dog to sit.
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MNF-I
Federal Police Reach Out to Children
By 2nd Lt. Jeff Orban
Brig. Gen. Majid Abaas hands out school supplies to the children of the Bab Al-Toob neighborhood during a humanitarian aid drop.
MOSUL — The Mosul Bde Federal Police (FP) handed out school supplies and children's shoes to the citizens of the Bab Al-Toob neighborhood, Aug. 8. The humanitarian drop was one part of a larger mission to reach out to the populace of this W. Mosul neighborhood.
Children and parents alike clamored for the much-needed pencils, notebooks, and other school supplies that will be used when the children return to school in Sept. Children formed a line in front of Brig. Gen. Abaas, the Mosul Bde FP cmdr, as he passed out 100s of bags of school supplies.
"Our project here is the people,” said Abaas. “You want the people on your side, and if the people feel that you'll protect them and keep them safe, they'll help you in your ops."
"It's very good for the kids to be happy, and to have a good relationship between the ISF and the people," said a Mosul citizen. "It's a very good idea."
The FP also went door to door delivering supplies to many homes in the neighborhood, even stopping by a local Christian church to give some school supplies to the nuns who care for the Christian children in the area.
As part of their larger op, the FP handed out wanted posters of known criminals believed to be in the area. They encouraged shop keepers and store owners to put them up on their doors and windows, and aided them in doing so.
The FP also use these humanitarian aid drops as opportunities to speak with the populace about the situation in their neighborhoods and gather intel directly from the people.
"When I collect the intel and the people give me the info about the people on the posters, it helps me catch these criminals and provide security for the area," says Abaas.
The cmdr of the Mosul Bde FP TT, Lt. Col. Leonard Rosanoff, whose team helped the ISF coordinate the humanitarian aid drop, said, "This op is indicative of how operational and humanitarian goals can be nested in order to achieve positive results for the populace."
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MNF-I
Iraqi FP fight Hand to Hand
By Sgt. Robert Jordan
Iraqi FP officers practice choke holds as part of a U.S. Army Combatives Course on FOB Falcon, Aug. 15.
(Photo by Sgt. Mary Phillips)
MAHMUDIYAH — Thirteen Iraqi FP officers participated in a 3-day Combatives Course. Combatives is a U.S. Army fighting system comprised of basic level grappling and grabbing, and controlling an opponent with chokes and holds. "It's the quickest way to be an efficient fighter, and you can train almost full contact," said Staff Sgt. Terry Thompson, a Combatives instructor with the 30th HBCT.
The FP lined up in front of a 20-by-10 foot mat on the floor, as U.S. Soldiers demonstrated fundamental holds, called mounts, across the chest, neck and hips. "Any questions?" asked Thompson after showing the officers a new mount. "Let's practice."
FP Cpl. Hamsed Jasim wraped his arms around the left shoulder of fellow officer Muhammad Hussein while extending his own right leg, pinning Hussein, who was about 50 pounds heavier than Jasim, to the mat. "I held him until he got tired," said Jasim.
The instructors adjust the students' holds, moving arms and legs as needed. "Combatives is a good self-defense tool to keep them safe," said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Zike, an instructor with Co E, 252nd CAB.
Smiling, the students continued to slam into the mat as they practiced their new skills. "You can see it in their eyes; they're happy," said Lt. Col. Amer al-Hassany, Iraqi cmdr.
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Multi-National Division - Baghdad
Solar Panels power Baghdad Health Clinics
By Sgt. Joshua Risner
Mahdi Jonny, an electrical engr with the Joint Projects Mgt Office (JPMO), 2nd BCT, 1st Inf Div, checks the wiring on a series of solar panels on the roof of the New Iraq Health Clinic in Gazaliyah, Aug. 12.
BAGHDAD — The roof of the New Iraq Health Clinic in the Gazaliyah district looks a little different from the buildings surrounding it. Two rows of solar panels, collecting the bountiful Mesopotamian sunlight, now provide the building's power through solar powered battery systems.
The addition is part of an ongoing effort by the JPMO, according to Maj. Andrew Attar, the JPMO chief. "The solar panel project started in April, but like most of the clinics in Baghdad, various American funding sources have gone into it over the years," said Attar. "The solar panels help to augment the electrical grid, which is improving every day, but still not consistent enough for a medical facility." Solar power has greatly improved ops inside the clinic, which services the local area, according to Attar. "It pretty much powers the entire clinic," he said. "We've had to reduce the number of refrigerated a/c units, but in their place we put air units that have less energy needs and still provide cool air."
"We inspected the solar panels, but more importantly we inspected the internal wiring within the clinic to make sure the loads are properly segregated," he said. "Some rooms require a lot of energy; some rooms require very little energy, so that's one of the finishing touches - if it's not done right, it's a problem. We're making sure that a room requiring a lot of energy has the proper wiring so it can handle the load."
Attar added that the quality assurance/quality control aspect of the project is equally important. "Our job's to make sure that the money that the American tax payers are spending is used in accordance with the statement of work agreed upon by us and the contractors," he said. "We don't pay until the work's done right."
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