This is for the family members and friends of the 6-4 CAV who may wonder why it takes so long for the mail to get to some of the remote areas and exactly how it gets there. 

U.S. Army soldiers slingload a Humvee to a CH-47 Chinook helicopter on Forward Operating Base in Bostick, Afghanistan, Nov. 30, 2008. The soldiers are assigned to the 1st Infantry and 101st Airborne divisions.    US Army photo by SSG Carrie Fox-Gutierrez.

From The Washington Times

Report: Taliban's influence again spreading fast

NATO challenges appraisal

Jason Motlagh

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan

Taliban militants now have a fixed presence in nearly three-quarters of Afghanistan, a sharp increase from last year, according to an international policy think tank.

The report by the International Council on Security and Development calls for a revamped NATO security strategy to stem an insurgency it says has made alarming inroads in much of the southern, western and northeastern provinces of the country, as well as in the capital, Kabul.

Overall, Taliban presence increased to 72 percent, an 18 percent jump compared with 2007, the report said. The think tank report added that militants now have "de facto control" of much of the south.

NATO rejected the report´s credibility, saying the assertion was "simply not true." While acknowledging heavy insurgent activity in the south and east, NATO said that levels of violence have increased in proportion with more aggressive military operations and the greater number of coalition troops, which has climbed from 37,000 to 52,000.

Those figures will climb soon, with as many as 20,000 additional U.S. troops set to be deployed over the next 12 to 18 months.

An Army brigade expected to arrive next month will largely be based on the southern side of the capital, the New York Times reported over the weekend, reflecting serious concerns about Kabul's vulnerability.

The Taliban's fugitive leader, Mullah Omar, in a message posted on a Web site Sunday, said the planned increase in U.S. troops in Afghanistan will give his fighters incentive to kill and maim more Americans than ever, the Associated Press reported.

"The current armed clashes, which now number into tens, will spiral up to hundreds of armed clashes. Your current casualties of hundreds will jack up to thousand casualties of dead and injured," said Mullah Omar, who is believed to be sheltered by fiercely conservative tribesman on the Afghan-Pakistan border.

The think tank report sought to highlight Taliban gains in and around Kabul, where a wave of shootings, suicide attacks, kidnappings and other criminal activities have occurred in recent months. A map of the city accompanying the report showed the area occupied by the U.S. Embassy, NATO headquarters and the Afghan presidential palace as one of "high Taliban/criminal activity."

Three of the four main highways into the capital are also under threat from the Taliban, the report said, part of a gathering effort to choke Kabul off from the rest of the country.

"Taliban are closing a noose around Kabul, and there is a real danger that the Taliban will simply overrun Afghanistan under the noses of NATO," said Paul Burton, the director of policy for the research organization.

The report was released a day after more than 160 U.S. and NATO vehicles were torched by militants outside Peshawar, Pakistan, the biggest attack to date on a vital military supply line.

The study relied on a combination of reported attacks and local perceptions of Taliban strength in its determinations. One or more insurgent attacks per week in a given province qualified the area as a "permanent Taliban presence."

NATO said this gauge was highly misleading, noting that most instances were hit-and-run attacks rather than direct confrontations, which have declined.

Formerly know as the Senlis Council, the think tank has earned a reputation for harsh criticism of NATO security and counternarcotics policies.

Following the same methodology as the one used in the report, NATO estimated that 74 percent of insurgent-related incidents are taking place in only 10 percent of the districts, composing only 6 percent of the population.

By NATO´s count, insurgent activity in Kabul is actually down 48 percent this year.

NATO has conceded, however, that the Taliban has impaired freedom of movement "to reasonable effect" on key inbound roads.

 

Story by 2nd Lt. Zack Moss
Posted on 12.08.2008 at 01:13AM at DVIDS

By 2nd Lt. Zack Moss
6th Squadron, 4th Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – The mountains of Konar Valley in eastern Afghanistan are some of the most treacherous and contested in the world. They are also home to Task Force Raider, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, from Fort Hood, Texas.

The squadron began to train for the challenges of the harsh Afghan environment the instant they were notified of their deployment. This training was put to the test during a mission this fall.

1st Platoon, Charlie Troop, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, a supporting Civil Affairs team, a platoon from the 2nd Kandak, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, of the 201st Corps of the Afghan national army and their supporting U.S. Marine Corps Embedded Training Team were traveling down the only improved road in the Nari District to check on development projects and resupply voter registration sites.

The movement south was uneventful until the patrol reached the Tsunel Valley.

The enemy was crouching among the houses on a hillside, waiting for the convoy. When the convoy came by, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired and impacted approximately five feet in front of the lead International Security Assistance Force truck, blowing a three-foot hole in the surface of a culvert.

"I saw an explosion to my front that opened a hole in the road, and the window cracked in front of me as bullets struck it, so I knew we were in an ambush," said Spc. Brian Engel from San Antonio. "I drove to avoid the hole in the road and get out of the kill zone, but an RPG hit the engine of my truck."

It was an all-out firefight and several Soldiers exited the vehicles as gunners from the vehicles fired on the enemy.

Pfc. Leonard Kroll, from Ontario, Calif., was fighting from outside the vehicle and helping Sgt. Daniel Ward, from Steamboat Springs, Colo., when he was struck just above the ankle by a bullet. As Ward continued to return fire he gave the order to Spc. Christopher Christensen from Fort Smith, Ark., and Engel to get Kroll into the truck to treat his injury.

Some vehicles from the convoy, despite damage, were clear from the enemy's fire, but not all.

They had to get to the high ground; Ward's truck was still in the kill zone, said Lt. Col. James Markert, 6-4 commander.

Sgt. Jammy Randell, from Smyer, Texas, took the lead, moving his scout team up the hill to establish an attack position on the high ground.

Randall, Markert and Pfc. Kirk Goff, from Swansea, S.C., engaged the enemy from approximately 400 meters away, suppressing the RPG team that was still firing at the ETT, ANA and Ward's truck. Sgt. 1st Class Scott Huffman, from Copperas Cove, Texas, grabbed the medic and moved back down the hill to provide treatment for Ward.

Markert called for fire, and the first 155 mm shell exploded on the hill above the enemy positions.

Soon after, Alpha Troop arrived as the quick reaction force. They suppressed the enemy as some of the more seriously wounded were medically evacuated for treatment.

"We were lucky that even though there were quite a few wounded Soldiers, very few of the wounds were serious," said Capt. Amanda Cuda, a doctor from Kailua, Hawaii.

The shooting stopped, but the fight wasn't over. Artillery from a nearby base continued to explode onto the battle scene.

"We tracked them down and engaged with an appropriate level of force," said Sgt. Maj. Gregory Turner from San Antonio. "Although well planned, we were expecting an attack so the enemy lost the element of surprise."

The mission didn't go as planned, but the battle drills that they had been practiced a hundred times did, leading to a successful battle without the loss of personnel.

"I was proud of the way my Troopers fought that day," Markert said. "They demonstrated the aggressiveness and quick thinking expected in Cavalry units."

I've had several requests for an update list so I'm posting it below.

I cannot begin to thank all of you who have given so much towards this effort!  There are so many wonderful Americans out there who keep giving and giving.  It is refreshing and motivating to have the privilege to work with all of you.

For anyone who would like to join in our effort please email me.  tankerbabelc@gmail.com.  Remember that it's not about the large donations.  It's about every single donation of any kind or size!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Name of Item	Number Needed	Number Rec’d or Shipped	Website (s) for product – websites provided are just to give you an idea of the product needed.
Balaclavas – must be solid dark colors.  These can be bought from about $6.00 to $30+ ($6.00 are fine)	874	262	http://www.uscavalry.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=9292&TabID=548 OR http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&productId=54272&storeId=10051&langId=-1&cm_cr=Default+Carhartt+Campaign-_-Web+Activity-_-All+Pages-_-ProductDetailPage-_-ProductDetailPage
Winter Wool Hiking Socks.  Grey or dark colors.  No white please.	XL –  3000 pair L – 2000 pair M – 1000 pair	1500 pair total	http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=10051&productId=74116&langId=-1.  Academy Sport, Bass Pro Shop, etc have these.  Must be winter wool and grey or dark colors
Thermal Underwear – must be dark, solid colors	XL Sets – 100 L Sets – 500 M Sets - 174	300	Hanes are good and can be bought at places such as Walmart for about $7.00 per piece (top or bottom).  Any brand is fine so long as it is a dark, solid color.
Black knit winter caps (must be able to fit under helmet)	500	300
Gloves	874	0	Must be dark colors and the type that will allow them to have easy use of their fingers.  Should be water proof.
Hand Warmers	5000 pair	2000 pair	http://www.littlehottieswarmers.com/Hand_Warmers_p/lhw1-40.htm

Foot Warmers	5000 pair	480 pair	http://www.littlehottieswarmers.com/product_p/lhw4-30.htm
Fleece Blankets – must be dark, solid colors with hemmed seams – no fringe.	544	100	http://www.northeastfleece.com/ (must order in boxes of 24).  Walmart also has fleece throws for about $4.00 I think
Letters, cards	No limit		Get schools, churches, Girl and Boy Scouts, etc involved
Hot cocoa and Apple Cider drink mix	No limit

 

 

 

I only have the link so you have to click here to see it.  Bet some of you will recognize some faces!!!!

Just in case you were wondering...

This photo was taken a couple of days ago.  The day BEFORE the snow depth hit 20 inches.

Ladies and gentlemen - these buildings aren't heated!!!!

Now...about those donations we still need for thermal underwear, hand and foot warmers, balaclavas, etc.  Email me at tankerbabelc@gmail.com.

 

UPDATED WITH LINKS FOR VIDEOS OF TELECONFERENCE AND DoD TRANSCRIPT

From Defenselink

Terror Groups Along Afghan-Pakistan Border Feel Pressure

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2008 – With U.S., Afghan and Pakistani forces applying pressure on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, the enemy “is running out of options for places to go,” a senior U.S. officer in the region said today.

Army Col. John M. Spiszer, commander of Task Force Duke, which is centered on the 1st Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said the addition of units from the 10th Mountain Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team in January will change the operating environment in the four-province region of Regional Command East.

Speaking with Pentagon reporters via teleconference from Forward Operating Base Fenty in Afghanistan’s Nangahar province, Spiszer said the region also includes the provinces of Nuristan, Konar and Laghman.

The area is the most violent in Afghanistan, the colonel said, and the border is a large part of that. In the past year, Taliban and other terror groups have been able to find safe havens on both sides of the rugged border. The 4,200 members of Task Force Duke have worked hard to tamp down the violence, he said, and increased Pakistani efforts on their side of the border have helped.

“In our area of operations, the border is becoming less and less of a transit zone, as Afghan national security forces, U.S. troops, the Pakistani military and the Pakistani Frontier Corps continue to conduct complementary operations against our joint enemy,” Spiszer said.

One example is Operation Lionheart, which began recently. This is a complementary operation with the Pakistani military and the frontier corps. All entities share intelligence to prevent the enemy from transiting the border, as operations continue to defeat the insurgents in Bajaur tribal agency in Pakistan, the colonel said.

Spiszer called Lionheart a good start, but acknowledged it has been a challenge for U.S. troops.

“It's not like I've got a lot of extra troops available,” he said. “But what we have done is work very hard to refocus our … intelligence, surveillance [and] reconnaissance assets, to identify who is transiting the border and launch attacks on those deemed a threat.”

The biggest success, the colonel said, is the cooperation and coordination that's developing between the Pakistani military and coalition and Afghan forces. “I wish I had more resources to devote to it, and we will have more over the coming months,” he said.

The near-simultaneous operations on both sides of the border are making it difficult for the enemy to operate, Spiszer said, noting that the task force will continue to keep pressure on the enemy throughout the winter. “We're continuing our operations along the border and in the capillary valleys and mountains throughout the winter to give the enemy no respite,” he said.

As the Afghan security forces develop and as the 10th Mountain Division arrives, Task Force Duke “will present the enemy with a transformed environment next spring where he will be hard pressed to operate,” Spiszer said.

An additional 800 Americans will join the task force in January. The additional American forces will provide the force more capacity and “will give us the capability to do things faster, to make a difference quicker,” Spiszer said.

“I think we're making great progress,” he said, “but there's just too few of us. I think the potential is there. We're moving forward, but with the additional troops that they're going to bring, it's going to get us into some of the areas that we're a little bit challenged right now.”

Security is just one aspect of the counterinsurgency fight in the region, the colonel noted. In fiscal 2008, the command spent $160 million toward the advancement and development of Afghanistan. “All the provinces were very heavy into road building,” he said. Irrigation projects, bridges, trade schools, forest conservation and development of agricultural capabilities were also funded.

“We didn't want to overpromise, but progress is definitely in motion, despite the ongoing combat operations,” Spiszer said.

The command also has helped governance issues, working with governors to handle the refugee crisis from Pakistan in July and working against poppy cultivation. The command also aided Afghans in preparing for regional elections next year, the colonel said.

Links to Video of COL Spiszer's interview:

Part I http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51989

Part II http://www.dvidshub.net/index.php?script=video/video_show.php&id=49917

Part III http://www.dvidshub.net/index.php?script=video/video_show.php&id=49918

DoD  Link http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4319

I'm way behind on posting updates and can't keep my eyes open long enough tonight to catch up on everything but....I'm happy to report that ten of the twenty 40 X 60 foot brown tarps have been ordered and will be shipped within a couple of days.

The Soldiers have been very busy building plywood structures in preparation for winter.  Unfortunately the enemy keeps them distracted a bit too much (tongue in cheek) and they weren't able to get proper roofing on many of the new structures as several of the remote COPs and OPs before the winter weather set in.  The tarps will help with the "leak factor" from the snow and rain. 

MANY thanks to the wonderful people who donated the funds for the first ten tarps.  Standing by to get confirmation on the funds for the second set of ten.

More updates tomorrow night.

CNN's Nic Robertson reports on the rush to get aid to remote parts of Afghanistan before the onset of winter.in this video entitled "Aid and the Afghan Winter" that was published 14 November 2008.

Winter is QUICKLY approaching.  Snow is already falling.  Please join with us to get additional winter gear to these Soldiers.  While the Army does provide them with winter gear experience from working with past units in that area tell us that they can never have enough as "back up".  If you would like to help out please email me - tankerbabelc@gmail.com.

 

From defenselink:

Soldiers in Afghanistan Keep Brigade Connected

By Army SPC Brandon Sandefur

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Nov. 6, 2008 – Soldiers with the 1st Infantry Division’s Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, make sure Task Force Duke has all appropriate lines of communication up and running so the mission can move forward.

“We maintain the phone and Internet connections for Jalalabad Airfield, which is the central hub for the brigade,” said Army Sgt. Alexander Englehart from Temecula, Calif. “We control all of the phones here in Jalalabad as far as programming them, making sure the phone book is up-to-date and things like that. We pretty much do everything related to the phones, other than cables.”

Phones and Internet are not the soldiers’ only responsibilities. They also maintain satellites and radios. They make sure satellite systems are installed, repaired and maintained correctly. They ensure the satellite link is strong while constantly monitoring their “distant end” in Kuwait to make sure the brigade’s “Command Post of the Future” is on the same settings.

“CPOF of the brigade relies on phones and satellites to relay messages and get information so they rely on us to communicate to the higher headquarters and command,” said Sgt. Jocelyn Veratio from Manifee, Calif. Afghanistan’s mountains limit radio use, he added, so phones and satellites often are a better way to communicate effectively.

Special Troops Battalion soldiers also go out to the line units to work with the soldiers there. They install and maintain line-of-sight radios. They also maintain traffic terminals to give company-level commanders Internet and phone capabilities to link up with higher headquarters, a capability they did not have before, Varatio said.

(Army Spc. Brandon Sandefur serves in the 1st Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)