Wire Update: US Military Challenges Charity's Allegations of Misconduct at Afghan Hospital

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2009 -- Newswire services this evening reported that a U.S. military spokesman and a senior adviser to the Army's 10th Mountain Division are now pushing back against claims made by a Swedish charity group that its soldiers rampaged through a hospital in Wardak province, Afghanistan while searching for insurgents.

A senior spokesman for Central Command (CENTCOM) Captain Jack Hanzlik said the Army did enter the hospital, but did so in cooperation with the Afghan National Army, the Afghan National Police, and the staff of the hospital, Fox News reported.

The counrty director of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, on Monday accused U.S soldiers of breaking down doors, searching patients' relatives and entering the ultrasound room.

The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan put out a statement 4 days after the incident claiming: "the U.S. troops "searched all rooms, even bathrooms, male and female wards, Fox said. Rooms that were locked were forcefully entered and the doors of the malnutrition ward and the ultrasound ward were broken by force to gain entry."

The statement went on to accuse U.S. soldiers of restraining hospital workers and tying up family members of several patients.

Captain Hanzlik told Fox News that members of Task Force 82, which includes members of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, were chasing insurgents who had recently detonated an IED.

Fox News reported the following details:

Those forces, he said, had strong reason to believe that an insurgent commander was in the hospital and explained these concerns to hospital staff before seeking permission to enter the hospital.

Coalition forces, which included members of the Afghan National Army and Police, then entered the hospital with permission from the staff, the military said. "No one was tied up," according to Hanzlik. "However, one locked door was kicked in, but again with permission from the hospital."

In a FOX News on-air report, Lt. James Peck, who was the on scene commander, said they spoke with the hospital staff before entering any of the rooms.

"They didn't have keys for two doors. The rest they were able to open with keys, but the two they didn't have keys for, we asked them first if we could enter, and they said if we desired we could enter."

A senior civilian adviser to the 10th Mountain Division who is based in Wardak said concerns were raised about the troops having entered the hospital when the charity group's headquarters in Kabul heard that U.S. troops had entered the clinic, Fox said.

In the on-air report, Fox noted that local Taliban may have also been involved in pressuring hospital staff to complain about the incident.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Source: U.S. Military Challenge Allegations of Misconduct at Afghan Hospital

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Wire: Taliban Expands in German Battlespace

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that the valleys of northern Afghanistan, patrolled mainly by NATO's 4,000-strong German force, have turned into a battlefield again.

The Reuters news service reported that "The Taliban have made a comeback in several northern provinces," said Mohammad Omar, governor of northern Kunduz province. "The local government here needs more foreign troops in order to root out the Taliban from Kunduz."

Since last year, the Taliban have pressed ahead to try to reclaim their former northern lands -- a setback for U.S.-led forces already struggling to contain an increasingly fierce insurgency in the south, Reuters said.

"There are certainly some areas, including Kunduz, where the insurgency has been strengthening," said U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Greg Smith, head of public affairs for U.S. and NATO troops.

"It's a serious situation if left unchecked. [We] are focusing on Kunduz and other areas to reverse that momentum."

See link below for details.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Source: Taliban Expands Grip Over Northern Afghanistan

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Pentagon Identifies Army Casualty (OEF)

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2009 -- The following news release made available Monday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:

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

Sgt. Randy M. Haney, 27, of Orlando, Fla., died Sept. 6 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. He was assigned to the 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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Wire: Charity Claims 10th Mountain Soldiers Stormed Hospital in Afghanistan

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that a Swedish charity accused soldiers from the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division Monday of storming through a hospital in central Afghanistan, breaking down doors and tying up staff in a search for militants. The U.S. military said it was investigating, according to an article published by The Associated Press.

On Monday, the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan said American soldiers entered the charity's hospital without permission to look for insurgents in Wardak province, southwest of Kabul.

The U.S. troops came to the hospital looking for Taliban insurgents late at night last Wednesday. Fange said they kicked in doors, tied up four hospital employees and two family members of patients, and forced patients out of beds during their search, AP reported.

When they left two hours later, AP reported, troops ordered hospital staff to inform coalition forces if any wounded militants were admitted, and the military would decide if they could be treated, Fange said.

The charity said on its Web site that the actions were not only a violation of humanitarian principles but also went against an agreement between NATO forces and charities working in the area.

U.S. military spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker confirmed that the hospital was searched last week but had no other details. She said the military was looking into the incident.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Source: Charity: US troops stormed through Afghan hospital

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Combat Camera Video: 10th Mountain Division on Patrol in Afghanistan

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Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2009 -- Embedded above is a b-roll video of soldiers deployed in Afghanistan, from Apache Company, 2-87th Infantry, 10th Mountain Division on patrol. (Produced by Sgt. Teddy Wade, Joint Combat Camera Afghanistan. Length: 00:05:54)

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Pentagon Identifies Army Casualty (OEF)

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2009 -- The following news release made available Sunday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:

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

2nd Lt. Darryn D. Andrews, 34, of Dallas, Texas, died Sept. 4 in Paktia province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device and a rocket-propelled grenade. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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Wire: US Servicemember Killed by IED in Afghanistan

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that a U.S. servicemember was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb, NATO said in a statement.

The incident happened in the south of the country on Sunday, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) under NATO said.

U.S. military spokeswoman Air Force Captain Regina Gillis confirmed a U.S. servicemember had died, but gave no other details.

The death brings to 184 the number of American troops to die in Afghanistan so far this year according to the icasualties.org Web site.

(Report from newswire sources.)

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Combat Camera Video: US Marines: 100 Days in Helmand

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Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2009 -- Embedded above is a video package about U.S. Marines assuming control of battlespace in Helmand province, Afghanistan despite harsh environmental conditions. (Produced by Marine Cpl. Aaron Rooks, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Length: 00:02:04.)

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OIF Update, Sept. 6, 2009: Forces in Iraq Kill 2 Suspected Terrorists

Dispatches from the Front:

BAGHDAD, Sept. 6, 2009 -- Two suspected terrorists were killed after Iraqi Special Operations Forces and U.S. forces advisors were fired upon during a court-ordered mission in Basrah, Iraq, on Sunday.

The elite counter-terrorism force was operating under the authority of warrant issued by the Al Etehadiyeh Court of Appeals.

The suspected terrorists were known criminals allegedly responsible for smuggling and distributing arms to terrorist organizations.

(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)

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Wire: US-German Rift Emerges Over Afghan Airstrike Deaths

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2009 -- Newswire services this evening reported that airstrike by U.S. fighter jets that appears to have killed Afghan civilians could turn into a major dispute between NATO allies Germany and the United States, as tensions began rising Sunday over Germany's role in ordering the attack, The Associated Press said.

Officials have said up to 90 people were killed in the airstrike Friday in the northern province of Kunduz after Taliban militants stole two tanker trucks of fuel and villagers gathered to siphon off gas.

Afghan and NATO investigations are ongoing, but both German and U.S. officials already appeared to be trying to deflect blame, AP said.

German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung said the Taliban's possession of the two tankers "posed an acute threat to our soldiers." German officials have said the tankers might have been used as suicide bombs.

Meanwhile, Rear Adm. Gregory J. Smith, the top U.S. and NATO spokesman in the country, said German troops let slip too many hours before visiting the site of the bombing Friday.

He explained that it's important to hold the ground after a strike and determine what happened before the enemy comes out with its own version of events, AP said.

AP noted that German troops in Afghanistan have been criticized for avoiding combat operations.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Source: US-German rift emerges over Afghan deaths case

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Pentagon: Gen. McChrystal Promises Full Accounting of Kunduz Air Strike

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2009 -- The commander of the International Security Assistance Force promised Afghans a full accounting of the air strike in Kunduz province Sept. 3.

Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal said in a radio address to Afghans today that “nothing is more important than the safety and protection of the Afghan people.”

The general spoke soon after visiting the site. The incident occurred after Taliban insurgents hijacked two fuel trucks. They drove the trucks to the banks of the Kunduz River where they became stuck in the mud. NATO soldiers spotted the trucks, ascertained there were no civilians present and called for the air strike. American F-15E Strike Eagles dropped ordnance on the site.

Now there are charges that, in addition to the Taliban, civilians were present. News reports indicate that civilians from neighboring villages may have been siphoning gas from the trucks. Estimates of the number of dead vary, with German officials – who patrol the area – saying there were 50.

“While the air strike was clearly directed at the insurgents, ISAF will do whatever is necessary to help the community, including medical assistance and evacuation as requested,” said Canadian Brig. Gen. Eric Tremblay, and ISAF spokesman.

Previous bombings have enflamed Afghan passions against the NATO-led security force. McChrystal moved quickly to defuse the situation, sending an investigation team to the area and stressing that the team will work closely with Afghan officials.

“I take this possible loss of life or injury to innocent Afghans very seriously,” he said in the address," he said. “I have ordered a complete investigation into the reasons and results of this attack, which I will share with the Afghan people,” he said.

ISAF is offering emergency medical aid and other emergency assistance to those affected.

Previous instances of unintended civilian deaths have angered Afghan leaders. As soon as McChrystal took command in June, he instituted strict standards for close-air support missions.

(Report by Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service.)

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Pentagon Identifies Marine Casualty (OEF)

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2009 -- The following news release made available Saturday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:

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

Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Baltazar Jr., 19, of San Antonio, Texas, died Sept. 3 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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OEF Update, Sept. 5, 2009: US Servicemember Killed in Eastern Afghanistan

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2009 -- An International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) servicemember died of wounds today as a result of hostile fire in eastern Afghanistan.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker, a U.S. spokesperson, confirmed that the deceased is a U.S. servicemember.

“We share the pain felt by the family members and friends of this courageous and selfless servicemember,” said Brigadier-General Eric Tremblay, ISAF Spokesperson. “This unfortunate loss does not alter our responsibility and resolve to help Afghans determine their own brighter future.”

Earlier today, ISAF officials reported the death of a U.S. servicemember in western Afghanistan.

(Report from an International Security Assistance Force news release.)

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Wire: Gen. McChrystal Inspects Afghan Tanker Airstrike Site

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan is visiting the site of an airstrike where American jets bombed two fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban.

The Associated Press said that Gen. Stanley McChrystal traveled to inspect the site in northern Kunduz province Saturday as NATO began a formal investigation into the attack in which up some reports claim to 90 people died. It is unclear how many of the dead were militants and how many were villagers siphoning fuel from the trucks.

Preventing civilian deaths has been an Obama Administration priority for McChrystal since he took command in Afghanistan this year. However, it is proving to be a daunting task in a war where all enemy combatants are civilians.

(Report from newswire sources.)

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Combat Camera Video: Joint Patrol in Eastern Baghdad

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Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2009 -- Embedded above is a b-roll video of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police conducting a joint patrol in eastern Baghdad. Scenes include soldiers and Iraqi police patrolling various streets, soldiers and Iraqi police meeting with Iraqi citizens and an interview with Sgt. Daniel Gardiner discussing the patrol. (Produced by Sgt. Stephanie Louge, 211th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. Length: 00:04:37.)

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OEF Update, Sept. 5, 2009: US Servicemember Killed in Western Afghanistan

Dispatches from the Front:

KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2009 -- An International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) servicemember was killed today by hostile small arms fire in western Afghanistan.

ISAF Press Officer Chief Petty Officer Brian Naranjo confirmed that the servicemember was from the United States.

“Every casualty is a significant loss for their family, our forces, and the nation,” said Col. Wayne Shanks, an ISAF spokesman.

(Report from an International Security Assistance Force news release.)

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Wire: Democrats Signal Resistance to US Troop Increase in Afghanistan

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2009 -- Newswire services this evening reported that key Senate Democrats signaled Friday that any effort by President Barack Obama to send more troops to Afghanistan is likely to hit resistance on Capitol Hill, deepening a growing political divide on the war even within his own party.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin today said the U.S. must focus more on building the Afghan security forces. His cautionary stance was echoed by fellow Democrat Sen. Jack Reed, who is also on the committee and spent two days in Afghanistan this week with Levin.

The Associated Press noted that senators will return to Washington next week, just as Obama receives a new military review of Afghanistan strategy that officials expect will be followed up by a request for at least a modest increase in U.S. troops battling insurgents in the eight-year-old war.

Obama came into office on a campaign platform pledging to shift U.S. focus from the war in Iraq to the Afghan fight.

Lawmakers now say they want the U.S. to more quickly train and equip the Afghan Army and police so the Afghans can take over their own security.

The offensive effort to root out terrorists seems to be taking a political back seat to defensive efforts involving nation building and searching for an exit strategy.

By the end of the year, an estimated 68,000 troops will be in Afghanistan, 21,000 of which were ordered there by Obama last spring.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Source: Dems signal resistance to Afghan troop increase

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Wire: Obama Urged to Rally Support for Afghan War

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2009 -- Newswire services this evening reported that the White House is facing mounting pressure from lawmakers to work harder to rally flagging public support for the war in Afghanistan.

With casualties rising, the administration is struggling to persuade voters that the war can be won or is worth the human and financial costs. Afghanistan is President Barack Obama's top foreign-policy priority, but recent polls show that a majority of voters oppose the war for the first time since the conflict began eight years ago, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The Wall Street Journal noted the following details:

The politics of the war are getting trickier for key American allies as well. A junior minister in Britain's Ministry of Defense resigned Thursday, criticizing his government's strategy in Afghanistan on the eve of a major speech by Prime Minister Gordon Brown about Britain's efforts there.

In the U.S., a growing number of lawmakers say that Mr. Obama needs to make the case for Afghanistan more forcefully -- and more frequently -- than he has done to date.

Some lawmakers feel that the president hasn't spent enough time on Afghanistan.

Additionally, White House officials said there were no plans for Mr. Obama to address the Afghan war in a major speech in the near future.

Recently, Obama said "victory" in Afghanistan isn't the United States' goal.

In a factually incorrect comparison, Obama told ABC News, "I'm always worried about using the word 'victory,' because, you know, it invokes this notion of Emperor Hirohito coming down and signing a surrender to MacArthur."

Emperor Hirohito was not in attendance at the ceremony aboard USS Missouri where Japanese officials signed the surrender documents concluding World War II.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Source: Obama Urged to Rally Support for War

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OIF Update, Sept. 4, 2009: Iraq-based US Marine Unit Undergoes Significant Reduction in Size

Dispatches from the Front:

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq, Sept. 4, 2009 -- Since 2004, a 4,000-person Marine Logistics Group has served as the logistics combat element of the Marine Air Ground Task Force operating in Al Anbar province, Iraq. But as of Sept. 1, a regiment-sized element, which is about half the size of the group, uncased their military colors for the first time to assume the responsibilities of providing logistics support to the Marines still in Iraq.

The change is a significant step for the Marine Corps as it shows substantial progress in their responsible drawdown from Iraq. The Marines’ mission in Iraq is scheduled to be completed by spring of 2010.

Under the heat of the Iraqi sun, members of the 2nd MLG (Forward) headquarters element and guests, to include Maj. Gen. R. T. Tryon, Multi National Force - West commanding general, gathered aboard Camp Al Taqaddum for a ceremony to recognize the transfer of authority from Brig. Gen. Juan G. Ayala, commanding general for 2nd MLG (Fwd), to Col. Vincent A. Coglianese, commanding officer for the newly designated Combat Logistics Regiment 27 (Forward). Coglianese will be leading the logistics element of the MAGTF in completing the remainder of its planned year-long deployment.

When a logistics command element first stood up in support of the MAGTF mission in Iraq in 2003, the MLG (Fwd), or the 1st Force Service Support Group as it was called before 2005, consisted of four subordinate battalions of about 1,000 Marines and Sailors each. The standard makeup of the group included an engineer battalion, two direct support battalions - one in support of the Marine units operating in eastern Al Anbar, and the other focused on units working in the west, and a general support battalion in support of all Marine Corps units within MNF-W.

For five years, this lineage of Marine logistics units has provided the ground units, and their own units, the support they needed to carry out day-to-day operations.

“[Marine logisticians] continued to sustain our forces at the outer edges of the battlefield and the edges of this empire,” remarked Ayala during the ceremony. “They’ve been on duty in Al Anbar and Ninewa provinces, in Basra, Waleed, Diyala supporting those [Regimental Combat Teams], Army [Brigade Combat Teams] and the combat advisors.

“All have collectively convoyed hundreds of thousands of miles transporting and escorting tons of critical supplies such as fuel, spare parts, ammunition, mail, personnel and equipment over the same dangerous and [improvised explosive device]-laden roads which our ground combat element operates on,” he continued.

The newly established CLR-27 (Fwd) will consist of a headquarters battalion; a direct support, reserve battalion - Combat Logistics Battalion 46; and a general support battalion, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, home-based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

“Today serves as another success story in our nation’s involvement in [Operation Iraqi Freedom],” expressed Coglianese during his closing remarks. “The improved security situation we see today is a direct result of countless deployments made by our U.S. service members over the last six years.”

Marine units serving throughout Al Anbar and Ninewa provinces have and continue to return to their home station without replacements. The reduction has enabled the logistics combat element to continue their service support mission while allowing them to also work towards getting all Marine gear and equipment out of Iraq.

With supply records showing the Marine Corps still has nearly 95,000 pieces of equipment to remove from Iraq, the Marines prepare to conduct the largest drawdown of their recent operational history.

(Report from a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)

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Pentagon Identifies Navy Casualty (OEF)

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2009 -- The following news release made available Friday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying a casualty:

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

Petty Officer 3rd Class Benjamin P. Castiglione, 21, of Howell, Mich., died Sept. 3 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Battalion.

(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

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