American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2009 - Iraqi security forces working with U.S. advisors arrested seven terrorism suspects today during two security operations, military officials reported.

Four suspects were arrested in Rashidiyah, north of Mosul, during an operation conducted to arrest a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member believed responsible for suicide-vest attacks in Balad and Muqdadiyah.

Evidence collected at the scene led Iraqi forces to arrest four suspected criminal associates of the al-Qaida in Iraq member without incident.

In southern Baghdad, Iraqi forces arrested a suspected member of a Kataib Hezbollah explosives cell believed to be responsible for mortar attacks conducted in September against security forces and civilians in the Basra region and two suspected accomplices.

After conducting preliminary questioning and examining evidence at the scene, Iraqi forces arrested the alleged Kataib Hezbollah member and his accomplices without incident.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)

American Forces Press Service
KABUL, Dec. 23, 2009 - Afghan and international forces in Afghanistan killed or detained numerous militants today in various operations, military officials reported.

In an operation led by the Afghan general directorate of special operations, several known instigators of a kidnapping group were detained.

The Afghan force, supported by International Security Assistance Force troops, detained the men after a search in Police District 5 of the Afghan capital. The suspects are linked to kidnappings in and around the city.

In other operations, a combined Afghan-international force in Paktia killed several militants, including a Taliban commander responsible for several bombing attacks. The force also detained two other militants.

The force moved to a compound west of the village of Goldad Kheyl in the Zurmat district after intelligence confirmed militant activity in the area. The security force encountered resistance and killed the Taliban commander and the militants.

In Zabul province, a combined security force killed a militant, wounded another and captured a third after intelligence sources indicated a Taliban target was in the Jeldak district near the village of Fuladgay.

Another Afghan-international force in Nangarhar province captured two suspected militants, including a Taliban weapons trafficker responsible for several attacks.

The force searched a compound north of the village of Dag Kalay in the Acheen district after intelligence detected militant activities. After an extensive search, the combined force found rocket-propelled grenade propellants, then detained the militants.

In Wardak province, a combined security force apprehended several suspected militants in the village of Zamooch in the Sayed Abad district after intelligence sources reported militant activities.

(From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news release.)

American Forces Press Service
KABUL, Dec. 16, 2009 - Combined Afghan and international forces detained four Taliban commanders and other suspected militants in three operations in two Afghanistan provinces today, military officials reported.

In Wardak province, a combined force searched a compound near the village of Bhardokheyl where intelligence sources reported militant activity. They detained two Taliban commanders involved with bombing activity and responsible for several attacks in the area.

Another Taliban commander and a few other militants were detained in an operation in western Kandahar. This commander has led a sizable militant element and is responsible for a number of bombing attacks in the area. A combined force searched a compound near the village of Haji Abdourraf in the Zhari district where intelligence sources reported the Taliban commander to be, and detained him without incident.

In a third operation, a combined force detained another sought-after Taliban commander and other militants in central Kandahar province. This commander is believed responsible for several attacks in the area and has links to other militant elements.

The combined force searched compounds near the village of Pitaway in the Arghandab district where intelligence sources reported the commander to be and detained the militants.

No shots were fired, and no one was harmed during the operations, officials said.

(From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news release.)

American Forces Press Service
KABUL, Dec. 15, 2009 - A combined Afghan-international security force detained a Taliban commander and other militants in Afghanistan today, and militants caught planting a roadside bomb were killed yesterday, military officials reported.

The Taliban commander is linked to a bombing network in Zabul province and is believed to be responsible for several attacks in the area.

The combined force searched a compound in the provincial capital of Qalat where intelligence sources reported the commander to be located and detained a few militants, one of whom identified himself as the man targeted in the operation. No shots were fired, and no one was harmed.

In another operation, security forces killed four militants yesterday as they planted a roadside bomb near the village of Charhar Bagh in Kandahar province.

The unit ended the engagement when two insurgents fled into the village. International Security Assistance Force officials said they believe no civilians were injured or killed in this operation, but are investigating claims to the contrary.

(From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news release.)

By Marine Corps Cpl. Zachary Nola
Special to American Forces Press Service
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Dec. 14, 2009 - When the Marines and sailors of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, came to the Now Zad region in Afghanistan, the message they received from outgoing units was simple: Beware of the village of Changwalak.

"[The outgoing units] wouldn't ever go to Changwalak," said Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Estevan White, 22, an assault man with Lima Company from Anthony, Texas. "They told us never go there, because that's where they took all their casualties."

Word of Taliban fighters using Changwalak to house their families, supplies and station reinforcements quickly cemented Now Zad's reputation for being one of the more dangerous areas in southern Afghanistan. It was reported the Taliban even went as far as boasting that coalition forces could never take the town by force.

So Lima Company entered the town with artillery, tanks and both fixed and rotary-wing air support readily available. But such support wasn't needed, and the Marines quickly began the tedious process of searching for weapons caches and improvised explosive devices.

"We found a lot of IED-making material, and it's totally in our favor to do that, because we're going to be traveling these roads for the next four or five months, and we don't need any more casualties from IEDs," said Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Shelton Foerster, 22, a rifleman.

The Marines also located weapons and mortar positions used to launch attacks on the nearby forward operating base, spoke will villagers, and promoted the legitimacy of the Afghan national security forces.

As Lima Company continued to exploit caches and fighting positions, it became apparent the town was supporting Taliban efforts, but the Marines were quick to point out that support probably was the result of intimidation.

"[Changwalak] is definitely harboring the enemy, but I think the people are stuck between a rock and a hard place," said Foerster, from Sealy, Texas.

During the three days the Marines operated in the town, their enemy -- who had promised to fight hard to defend the city -- did little to impede the company's progress. However, the Marines were not fooled by the Taliban's absence, and were aware that much more work remains in the village.

"I think [the Taliban] went down in their little holes they've dug for years. So I still think they're in Changwalak, I just think we need to dig a little bit deeper to get them out," Foerster said. "[The Taliban] are biding their time and afraid to fight us, because they saw all our assets. But I think a couple months down the road they are going to give us a little more resistance."

In the three days Lima Company was in Changwalak, they made a critical step toward purging the area of Taliban fighters. Once Taliban manipulation in the area is ended, Afghan national security forces and coalition forces will be able to take greater strides en route to a safer and more secure Now Zad.

"If we can take Changwalak away from the enemy, then people will start coming back to this area, and then eventually flow into Now Zad and have this whole area back to civilian control," Foerster said.

(Marine Corps Cpl. Zachary Nola serves with the Regimental Combat Team 7 public affairs office.)

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2009 - Afghan and international forces detained several suspected militants, including a bomb cell leader and Taliban commander, in operations in Afghanistan over the past three days, military officials reported.

An international security force conducted an air strike today, destroying a known Taliban stronghold consisting of bunkers and enemy defensive positions in Kunar province. The force targeted the stronghold near Tsangar Darah village in the mountainous Watapur district after intelligence sources indicated militant activity there.

Also today, an Afghan and international security
force in Khost province detained a suspected Haqqani terrorist network bombing cell leader and several other militants after searching a compound near Kuzah Kala village in Terayzai district where intelligence sources reported the cell leader to be located.

The combined force searched the compound without incident and detained several militants, including the cell leader. The force also recovered assault rifles, hand grenades and bomb-making materials.

In another operation, an Afghan and international security force killed several enemy militants and wounded another in northern Paktika province while pursuing a Taliban commander. The militant commander is believed to be responsible for weapons trafficking, kidnapping Afghan civilians and planning several bomb attacks in the area.

The combined security force targeted a compound near Tawdobay Kalay village in Sar Hawza district where intelligence reported militant activity. The combined force received hostile fire and returned fire. A security element searched the enemy fighting position and recovered several assault rifles and chest racks loaded with ammunition magazines. The force provided medical attention to the wounded enemy militant and later transported him to a military medical treatment facility.

Another combined force detained a few suspected militants in Zabul province while pursuing a Taliban commander responsible for several small-arms and bomb attacks in the area. The force searched a compound near Nowkhiz village in Qalat district where intelligence sources reported militant activity and detained the militants without incident.

In operations yesterday, an international security force carried out an air strike and killed a group of enemy militants in Laghman province that placed homemade bombs along a road near Hakimabad village in Arlingar district.

After the air strike, Afghan and international security forces cleared the site, found the homemade bombs and destroyed them.

Elsewhere, an Afghan and international security force detained a Taliban commander and another militant after searching a compound in Kandahar province. The commander is believed to be responsible for several bomb attacks and for distributing arms and bomb-making materials to insurgents in the area.

The combined force targeted a compound near Rigwai Sofla village in the Panjawi district where reliable intelligence sources said the Taliban commander was located. The force searched the compound without incident and detained two militants, including the Taliban commander.

In Ghanzi province, another combined force searched a compound near Mian Kheyl village in Wali Mohammad Shaheed district without incident and detained a suspected militant.

In a Dec. 5 operation, an Afghan and international security force detained a group of militants while searching for a senior Taliban commander in northern Kandahar province. The commander is believed to be responsible for several attacks and distributing weapons and bomb-making materials to other militant forces in the area.

Several militants were killed when they attacked the combined force searching a compound near Shotor Gardan village in Khakriz district where the commander was believed to be located.

No civilians were harmed during any of these operations, officials said.

(Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news releases.)

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2009 - Iraqi police and U.S. advisors apprehended 15 suspects with alleged ties to al Qaida in Iraq during operations in there in the past few days, military officials said.

Iraqi police arrested four suspected members of al Qaida cells today in two joint security operations near Baghdad and Kirkuk, military officials said.

In a joint security operation in Karmah, west of Baghdad, police apprehended an alleged associate of a car-bomb cell believed responsible for attacks targeting government buildings and civilians in the Iraqi capital. Police also arrested a suspected accomplice.

During a separate operation in a rural area southwest of Kirkuk, the 3rd Emergency Services Unit and U.S. advisors arrested a suspected al Qaida in Iraq leader and a suspected criminal accomplice.

The suspected terrorist leader is believed to be responsible for emplacing improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, throughout the region, moving foreign fighters into Iraq to carry out attacks, and transporting and storing weapons.

In earlier operations, Iraqi security forces arrested four suspected members of al Qaida in Iraq during joint security operations in northern Iraq.

During a security operation yesterday in Muqdadiyah, northeast of Baghdad, Iraqi police and U.S. advisors apprehended a man with alleged ties to the terrorist network.

On Nov. 28, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors in southwestern Mosul arrested three suspected associates of an alleged al Qaida member.

In other Nov. 28 operations, Iraqi police in Mosul arrested an alleged al Qaida in Iraq associate, and police in Hawija arrested an alleged associate of the network and a suspected accomplice.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2009 - Iraqi security forces arrested 18 suspected al-Qaida in Iraq associates today, and earlier this week captured a terrorism suspect they've been pursuing for three years, military officials reported.

Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched several houses in Mosul looking for an alleged al-Qaida in Iraq regional leader who is suspected of staging deadly attacks against Iraqi civilians and security forces.

Based on preliminary questioning and evidence gathered at the scene, Iraqi forces arrested 18 of his suspected associates.

The arrests in Mosul are expected to contribute to greater safety for Iraqis from attacks during the upcoming Eid al-Adha, or "Festival of Sacrifice," Muslim holiday.

In Diyala province Nov. 22, Iraqi security forces, advised by U.S. forces, arrested a suspected leader of a terrorist group, along with a suspected associate.

The judicial court of Muqdadiyah had issued a warrant for Harith Sadun Dawud al-Rubayi for suspicion of murder, kidnapping and bombing attacks against Iraqi citizens and Iraqi security forces. He also is suspected of smuggling weapons, home invasions and stealing money from Iraq's interior ministry.

He is believed to be linked to the kidnapping and murder of the son of a former Muqdadiyah mayor in September, as well as the murder of an Iraqi policeman in Abu Sayda. The suspect has been wanted by authorities and had evaded capture for three years.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

American Forces Press Service
KABUL, Nov. 17, 2009 - Afghan and international forces worked together to kill or detain numerous enemy fighters and terrorism suspects in operations over the last two days, military officials reported.

A combined Afghan and international security force killed several enemy militants, including a sought-after Taliban district commander, and detained several suspected militants in Afghanistan's Wardak province early today.

The force searched a compound near the village of Mayshin Kala in the province's Sayed Abad district where intelligence indicated militant activity. Upon entering the compound courtyard, the force came under attack and returned fire, killing several enemy militants.

During the engagement, the building used by the enemy militants caught fire, causing grenades and ammunition to detonate. An Afghan woman was inadvertently killed during the exchange of fire with enemy militants.

Occupants of the compound confirmed that the Taliban district commander had arrived earlier in the night and joined the other militants. The force searched the compound and recovered multiple assault rifles and hand grenades, and detained several other suspected militants.

In a separate operation in Wardak province today, an Afghan-international security force killed two enemy militants and detained several suspected militants while pursuing a Taliban commander and facilitator believed to be responsible for numerous attacks on civilians and infrastructure in the area. The force searched compounds near the village of Qalah-ye Padshah in the province's Nerkh district after intelligence indicated militant activity. No incidents occurred during the search, and the force detained several suspected militants.

While departing from the last compound, the joint force killed two armed militants who moved aggressively against the force from a nearby orchard. No civilians were harmed during this operation.

In another operation today, an Afghan-international security force killed an enemy militant and detained another man who was identified as a sought-after Taliban district commander in Ghazni province.

A combined force searched a compound near the village of Malang Kheyl in the province's Qara Bagh district where an intelligence source reported the Taliban commander to be located. At one of the buildings, the joint force shot and killed an enemy militant after the person displayed hostile intent. The force searched the compound without further incident and detained the wanted militant, who surrendered quickly and identified himself as the Taliban commander. No civilians were harmed during this operation.

In Kunduz province today, a combined force detained several suspected militants while pursuing a Taliban commander believed to be responsible for the facilitation of foreign fighters to other militant elements in the area.

The force searched a compound northwest of Kunduz City without incident, and detained several suspected militants. No shots were fired, and no one was injured.

In other news, an Afghan-international security force also detained a suspected militant in Kandahar province yesterday while pursuing a senior Taliban commander. The force searched a vehicle near the village of Shad Khan Kalay in the province's Kharkriz district after intelligence indicated militant activity. The force detained one man for further questioning. No shots were fired, and no one was harmed during the operation.

(From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news release.)

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2009 - Combined Afghan and international security forces detained several suspected militants, including an alleged Taliban commander, in operations in Afghanistan today and yesterday, military officials reported.

A combined force killed enemy militants and detained several militants in Wardak province, including an alleged Taliban commander believed to be responsible for several attacks in the area.

The combined security force searched buildings near the village of Badam Kalay in Nerkh district where intelligence sources indicated a Taliban commander was located. The force surrounded a mosque, known to be used by the Taliban commander to cache weapons, and called for the militants to surrender.

The force received heavy machine-gun fire from the mosque and responded with precision fire, killing two of the militants. The force again called for the remaining militants to surrender.

Several other militants surrendered, including the suspected Taliban commander.

Afghan members of the joint force then entered and secured the mosque and recovered a medium machine gun, multiple assault rifles, grenades, a pistol, ammunition, video recorder and communications equipment. Following the operation, village elders discussed the operation with the combined force and examined the militant weapons cache in the mosque.

No Afghan civilians were harmed.

Elsewhere, a combined Afghan and international security force detained a group of suspected militants after searching compounds in Zabul province known to be used by a Taliban commander believed to be responsible for making homemade bombs and conducting attacks in the area. After searching the compounds without incident, the combined force detained the suspected militants. No shots were fired and no one was injured.

Meanwhile, a combined force killed an enemy militant and detained a group of suspected militants in Khost province while pursuing a local Taliban "shadow" governor with numerous links to Haqqani terrorist organization senior leadership in the area.

The combined force targeted a series of buildings near the village of Bazikani in Spera district after intelligence indicated militant activity there. The militant was killed when he fired on the force. The force searched the buildings, detained the suspected militants and recovered a number of small-arms weapons.

No Afghan civilians were harmed during this operation.

In Kandahar City yesterday, a combined force detained a suspected militant while pursuing a senior Taliban facilitator and subcommander who allegedly operates in the area.

The combined security force searched a compound after intelligence indicated militant activity there. The force conducted the search without incident and detained a suspected militant for additional questioning. No shots were fired, and no one was injured.

(Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news releases.)

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2009 - Afghan and international forces in Afghanistan today captured a sought-after Taliban commander following a firefight in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, and also captured a Haqqani terrorist group leader in another area, military officials reported.

In the first incident, the combined force killed several enemy militants and detained others in Ghazni's Zankhan district.

During the operation, the force received and returned fire, killing several enemy militants. A security element of the combined force searched the enemy position and recovered a rifle, multiple grenades, ammunition and communication gear.

The force then searched the compound and detained a group of suspected militants. The force also recovered IED-making materials and multiple assault rifles.

In other operations in Afghanistan:

-- A combined force in the Zadran district of Wardak province today detained several suspected militants, including a sought-after Haqqani leader responsible for financial and logistical support of militant attacks in the Khowst-Gardez Pass. The force searched the camp where intelligence sources located the man. The force detained the suspects, one of whom surrendered and identified himself as the Haqqani leader.

-- Combined forces detained several suspected militants in Helmand province yesterday while pursuing a senior Taliban commander who operates in the area. The force searched a camp outside of the village of Nabi Chah in Garmsir district after intelligence indicated militant activity there. The force conducted the search without incident and detained the suspects.

-- In an operation yesterday in the Sayed Abad district of Wardak province, Afghan and international forces detained several suspected militants after searching compounds known to be used by a Taliban element. The combined force searched the compounds without incident, detained the suspects and recovered bomb-making materials, small arms components, a small cache of ammunition, and video equipment.

-- A combined force yesterday detained two suspected militants in northeastern Kandahar City while pursuing a Taliban commander responsible for financial, media and logistical support of other militant elements in the area. The force searched the compound without incident.

-- A combined force yesterday killed a group of enemy militants and detained a suspected militant in Ghazni province while pursuing a Taliban commander responsible for several attacks in the area and with numerous links to other Taliban commanders. The force targeted a compound near the village of Akhtar Kheyl in the Qara Bagh district after intelligence indicated militant activity there. During the operation, the force engaged and killed the enemy militants. The force searched the compound, detained the suspect and recovered bomb-making materials and multiple assault rifles and chest racks. No civilians were harmed.

-- A combined force detained multiple suspected militants in Khandahar province after searching compounds known to be used by a Taliban commander responsible for several attacks in the area. The force targeted the compounds near the village of Atalay in Kharakaz district after intelligence indicated militant activity. The combined force searched the compounds without incident and detained the suspect.

-- Combined forces detained a suspected militant in Wardak province who identified himself as a Taliban commander responsible for several attacks and supplying other militant elements in the area. The force targeted buildings in the Nerkh district after intelligence indicated militant activity. Afghan soldiers searched the buildings without incident and detained the suspect.

(Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news releases.)

Date: 11.10.2009
Posted: 11.10.2009 06:39

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan national police and ISAF forces seized 500,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, 5,000 IED components and detained 15 people after a raid in Kandahar, Nov. 8.

Based on reliable information, the patrol discovered 1,000 100-lb. bags of fertilizer, which is often used by insurgents to make explosives, and detained 15 people in a warehouse. After the initial find another 4,000 100-lb. bags of fertilizer were found in a nearby compound.

Ammonium nitrate fertilizer is a key ingredient of homemade explosives and used in the majority of main charges for IEDs. This type of fertilizer is illegal in Afghanistan.

"This was a tremendous success for the Afghan national police who led this operation," said Lt. Col. Todd Vician, an ISAF spokesman. "This find will undoubtedly save many lives and points to the increasing capability of the Afghan national security forces."

Afghan-International Security Force Detains Taliban Militants in Logar and Interdicts Taliban Facilitator in Helmand.

An Afghan-international security force detained several suspected militants in Logar province while pursuing a Taliban commander operating in the area and linked to several local Taliban shadow government leaders.

The joint security force targeted compounds near the village of Yusof Kheyl in Baraki Barak district after intelligence indicated militant activity. The joint force searched the compounds without incident and detained the suspected militants. No shots were fired, and no Afghan civilians were injured during this operation.

In a separate operation, an Afghan-international security force detained a group of suspected militants in Helmand province, including a sought-after Taliban facilitator responsible for weapon shipments to other militant elements and heavily linked to narcotics traffic in the area.

The joint security force targeted a compound in the rural section of Garmsir District where intelligence sources reported the Taliban facilitator to be located.

The joint force searched the compound without incident, recovered IED-making materials, bomb-making manuals and detained the group of suspected militants. One of the suspects surrendered and identified himself as the Taliban facilitator. No shots were fired, and no Afghan civilians were injured during this operation.

ISAF Casualty

An ISAF service member died as a result of an IED strike in Southern Afghanistan today. The service member was from the United States.

Story by Sgt. Debra Richardson
Posted: 11.10.2009 05:36

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – The sun had barely begun its climb over the mountains when the Afghan national army and coalition forces began their patrol to a small village nestled between two of the largest mountains in Zabul province. Parsang Village has been known as a "fence-sitting" village; a village that hasn't decided where to lay its loyalty.

"We visited Parsang three months ago," explains an ANA officer as he gives directions to his driver to fall in line in the convoy. "Three months ago, insurgent occupation inside the village was very apparent. The entire village was intimidated and afraid of the local insurgent fighters. They didn't want anything to do with us, for fear of retribution by the enemy fighters," the officer continued.

As the patrol drew closer to the village however, the ANA commander smiled. "I see this visit will not be like the last." As the convoy came to a slow halt, children of all ages ran up to the trucks, shaking hands with the ANA soldiers as they exited their vehicles and waving with excitement.

During the shura, the local elders confided in the ANA, explaining that security in the area has improved significantly due to several operations in the past two months. The elders stated the insurgents are very weak and no longer have a strong command and control over their village.

"Before, we were forced to provide food and shelter to the insurgents or suffer beatings, or even death," explained one elder. "Now, we rarely see more than two enemy fighters at a time and they never stay in our village for more than an hour," the elder continued.

"The insurgents feel they are being watched at all times and the ANA and coalition forces can fly down on them at any time," exclaimed another elder. "The enemy fighters are terrified of the helicopters and no longer believe our village is safe for them."

During the shura, the elders discussed ways they could provide security to their own villages. They discussed avenues to take in order to become more self-sufficient and not rely so heavily on the ANA to provide security for their own villages. Now that the insurgent's threat has been diminished, the villagers are more apt to provide security for themselves. The villagers' confidence in the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan increases as the insurgents' influence diminishes.

After the shura, ANA and coalition medics provided medical attention to 56 villagers. The ANA also distributed 60 bags of flour, 15 bags of rice, 30 bags of wheat, 10 radios and 20 bags of wheat seed.

The initiative to provide villagers with grain and wheat supplies to discourage planting and harvesting of illicit drugs. This initiative was discussed at an earlier shura and village elders seemed very skeptical that the ANA would deliver on its promise to provide such supplies. The ANA's ability to deliver these goods to the people of Parsang provides credibility to GIRoA's stated efforts to support the citizens of Afghanistan.

As the ANA officer shook hands with local elder, concluding the visit, he vowed to be back, to check on security and provide medical assistance to the people. The elder smiled and thanked him and his Soldiers. "You are welcome in my home, anytime," he said.

On 6 September 2008, Asif Ali Zardari was elected Pakistan's 13th President and has dramatically ratcheted up the Pakistani drone warfare program. Since President Obama took office Januanry 20th, Pakistani drone strikes have killed about a half-dozen militant leaders along with hundreds of other people, a quarter of whom were civilians.

Even with the unprecedented number of strikes by drone aircraft in Pakistan, under the cover of by the Obama administration, the Taliban and al Qaeda networks based there have maintained their contacts with the Paki ISI.  This completely rational and understandable alliance, even in the face of the death of growing numbers of leadership of militant organizations, has proven the efficacy of the "blame America" program.

The dead include two heads of Uzbek terrorist groups allied with al Qaeda and Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, in addition to hundreds of lower-level militants.  According to rational analysis, the living leadership must be receiving extremely reliable assurance of ISI support.

The distractions from number of civilian deaths caused by the drones and the success of "presto change-o" diversion is an important element in the plan to maintain government control.  The political atmosphere of today's Pakistan, where anti-Americanism is rampant, and the cooperative Taliban and al Qaeda have reinforced the "support your Paki Government" campaign.

Useful idiots (such as Alston) publicly warned that unless the Obama administration explains what the legal basis is for selecting the individuals targeted by drone attacks, "it will increasingly be perceived as carrying out indiscriminate killings in violation of international law."  This enhances the perception that there are magical American drones, capable of loitering over Pakistan air space at their slow air speed. One wonders at the lack of outrage at the Pakistan ineptness in detecting, interdicting and destroying such drones.  The billions in Air Force expenditures has not produced an ability to defend Paki air space.  Could this embolden Pakistans external enemies.  It certainly goes some distance to explain why Taliban and al Qaeda forces feel little trepidation at remaining on Pakistan soil.

Counterinsurgency experts David Kilcullen and Andrew Exum, who have written that the drone strikes had "killed some 700 civilians, are expost-facto shills for the Obama and Zardari administrations.    The civilians vs, militant killed ratio shell game implies the there is an acceptable ratio.  The "2 percent" solution appears to count identified targets as "good kills" and everyone not identified as "bad Kills".  Obviously irrational, it none the less serves their own ends.   In other words, in their analysis, 98 percent of those killed in drone attacks were civilians. Kilcullen and Exum advocated a moratorium on the strikes because of the "public outrage" they arouse.  Currently the mindset appears to be that irrational demands and claims will achieve a desirable outcome.

Doing the math, one discovers that 14 militants were killed in 48 drones strikes.  If a person wanted to achieve a reasonable end, that information alone would cause concern for the strikes efficacy.  If you were to consider their argument that drones can not effectively target individuals, 48 missiles would appear to have killed an astounding number of militants.  Randomly fired missiles would not be expected to kill anywhere near 14 identified individuals.      

A very different picture was presented this month by the Long War Journal, an American blog that closely tracks terrorist groups, in particular al Qaeda and the Taliban. Bill Roggio, the editor of Long War Journal, concluded that according to his close analysis of the drone strikes, only 10 percent of those killed were civilians.  A rational person who considers the presence of a minimal amount of humanity in the Pakistan government, would consider this as closer to factual than  Kilcullen and Exum's numbers.

Kilcullen and Exum and the Long War Journal have the ability to distract from the real point of drone strikes and the real effect of disguising their source.  The fact that Pakistan continues to benefit from manufactured confusion means that Obama will continue to participate.

More than half the people surveyed in winter 2008 in this region, known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, said the drone strikes were accurate and were damaging the militant organizations based there.  In a democracy 50%+1 is a governing majority and means from the Paki perspective to continue to be a good out look for conclusion of the campaign.

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2009 - Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. forces advisors, arrested two terrorism suspects and a murder suspect in Iraq in recent days, military officials reported.

Iraqi security forces, with U.S. forces advisors, arrested two suspected terrorists -- a father and son -- in Salahuddin province Oct. 16.

The forces arrested Diyah Adib Hassan Albu Nassir in his home in Bayji with a warrant issued by the Federal Appellate Court of Salahuddin. They arrested Nassir's son, Farhan Diyah Adib Hassan Albu Nassir, after they determined there also was a warrant for his arrest. The elder man is suspected of funding insurgent activities for several terrorist organizations in northern Iraq.

Elsewhere, the Qaim special weapons and tactics unit, with U.S. forces advisors, arrested an Iraqi police murder suspect Oct. 19 based on a warrant issued by Iraq's Higher Judicial Council Magistrate Court.

The suspect also is accused of having al-Qaida in Iraq ties and involvement with insurgent activity, according to the warrant.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)