So, I’ve been getting inquiries about the article I wrote the other day about the “insider” murder of two Americans. Yesterday, we read the report from the New York Times. We heard from military sources that our account wasn’t “entirely” true. Today, the Washington Post supports the story told us by someone on the scene;
Two days after the U.S. military resumed joint operations with Afghan security forces last week following a spate of “insider attacks,” a platoon of American soldiers stopped at an Afghan army checkpoint in a volatile eastern province.
The Americans had a cordial conversation and cracked a few jokes with their Afghan comrades during the Saturday afternoon patrol in Wardak province. The Afghans offered the Americans tea. Then, according to a U.S. military official, an Afghan soldier, without warning or provocation, raised his weapon and opened fire — mortally wounding the senior American on the patrol.
In a war in which insider attacks have become commonplace, what happened next made the incident extraordinary, the American official said. Another Afghan soldier at the checkpoint opened fire on the Americans, killing a U.S. civilian contractor and wounding two other American soldiers. Soon, Afghan soldiers and possibly insurgents began firing at the Americans from several directions.
I got an inquiry from Congress late last night. They wanted to know my source and I refused to give it. But it seems to me that Congress should be asking their questions of the Pentagon. Mostly, they should ask why they’re hearing about a unit of Afghans attacking an American patrol from a military blogger before they hear about it from the DoD.
Here’s another question for them to ask; why were all of the US patrols in that area pulled back on Sunday? I hear it’s because they were worried that there were several rogue Afghan units out to blast at American patrols. And I also hear they have intelligence that supports their fears.
As far as I can tell, the NOK of the two US casualties hasn’t been notified yet, because I can’t find their names anywhere, but I’ve verified my source by checking the names of the casualties in AKO. The names haven’t been released by DoD yet.
Really? Congress is asking YOU about this? Just when I think I might be able to grasp how out of touch our “leaders” are they prove me wrong.
Thank you for reporting this for us, Jonn. God Bless the families of so many who have been killed for no reason at all.
No no no! It’s our fault because we are culturally insensitive. Get your story straight.
To me the fact that NOK haven’t “officially” been notified yet tells me DoD is as gutless as this administration in calling this for what it is…insider and terrorist. Both words the powers that be can’t bring themselves to admit no matter how many dead and wounded have to pay the price.
“But it seems to me that Congress should be asking their questions of the Pentagon. ”
Exactly right, Jonn.
After we take our country back in November the whole officer corps needs to be vetted again and then gutted of all the spineless POS that have forgone their honor and refused to stand up and protect those who serve under them. Although I never condoned it, just maybe some of the fraggings back in my era were deserved?
“After we take our country back in November the whole officer corps needs to be vetted …”
Roger that, and start with Dempsey.
If that doesn’t get your blood pressure up…..WTF over?
Maybe it is the cynic in me, but I think the reason they want your source is so the source can be hung out to dry.
#5 after we take our country back in november we need to demand term limits, a revamping of just about every organization and department– starting with the DoD, since you can really die from stupidity and just keep going.
November is the FIRST STEP.
@8
Yah. I’m thinking you’re right, Twist.
I cant believe we’re still over in that fucking shit hole.
The New York Post identified the contractor killed as Kevin O’Rourke, I worked with him in the 90’s in the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit, in another previous life, he was a stand up guy and will be sorely missed:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/ex_cop_died_for_his_kids_M4fAY5vOZuHkyAK6XJ4o6J
Do not give them the source! Either change the ROE’s or get the f__k out of that shit hole. The dip stick that publicized the withdraw time line has created an absolute mess, honestly its time to come home.
Does Hallmark make a card we could send them to express our thanks for “When you care enough to get them all killed?” These clowns are too detatched from reality to understand that that would be sarcasm.
Nope. Protecting sources of information is paramount. Too damn bad if folks who should long ago have stopped the leaks must now go to the milblogs for truth. They find the concept that trust is a two-way street incomprehensible. They are not trustworthy, plain and simple. Even if the individual who asked for the information happens to BE trustworthy, those with whom s/he shares that info most likely would not be.
Hang tough, Jonn.
Twist is probably 100% correct on why the DOD wants John’s source. After November, there needs to be a whole shit load of house cleaning!
May be a good thing that someone influential is reading something with common sense
They don’t need the source to obtain information. They can subpoena every member of the unit and question them personally if they want. The ONLY reason to seek the source through unofficial channels is to burn the fellow who told the truth. But the truth?
“YOU can’t handle the truth![…]We use words like honor, code, loyalty…we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use ’em as a punchline.”
Indeed, let’s ask the mil bloggers what’s going on Congress because clearly you 4ssholes have no idea.
Eventually we might just learn the Russian lesson in Afghanistan, those f$ckers are never to be trusted and will never be our “friends”.
They can be our peasant serfs if we put our boots on their neck and keep their necks tight to the ground…but they can never be our “friends” any more than the Pakistanis will ever be our “allies”….
The “rogue” units will be the normal units the day after the last American troopers leave, and the Taliban will be back in power rolling over
Yeah, I don’t think think there was any malice intended because of the way those Congressfolks tried to contact me. But, they also know that I won’t give up the source.
I agree with Jabatam. As dismal as it is that anyone in Congress would have to turn to a blog for information, it does show that they’re not totally insulated and are following other sources of information. Keep it up, Jonn. As the saying goes, “the pen is mightier than the sword.”
It’s because Congress says the words “true faith and allegiance”, but most of those folks don’t know what that means. More’s the pity.
Congress is asking you and not getting the straight skinny from the DoD? Shades of Vietnam . . . there is some real change needed again, it seems.
@19 – Jonn… Those of us who contribute to this blog have been asking for truthful answers to lots of questions we’ve had over the years to them (Congress), and we’ve been stone-walled to. “Quid-pro-quo” they expect, but not in this case. I presume you take the same position, and protect your sources for a litany of reasons. Given that the “intelligency community” the DoD and State Department seem to rely on, I’d think they could find the answers they’re looking for instead of pestering you. Fuck ’em.
Those who think that Romney will clean house if elected will be sorely disappointed. I’m sure things will be far better than under the Marxist in Chief, but Romney doesn’t strike me as someone who will make the drastic changes that we need, throughout government.
My heart goes out to the families of those that were murdered.
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Sep. 30, 2012) – A U.S. Special Forces Soldier died Sep. 28 from wounds sustained from small-arms fire in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.
Sergeant 1st Class Riley Gene Stephens, 39, was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. He was a Special Forces medical sergeant.
This was his fifth deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
http://www.soc.mil/UNS/Releases/2012/September/120930-01.html
#25, that wasn’t him. For one thing it happened on Friday and this attack was in the early morning hours of Sunday. Secondly, that’s not the name I have. Thirdly, that’s not the unit that was attacked.
@5…yes, yes and yes!
@9 We probably disagree about a lot of things, but term limits for our idiot politicians? I’m completely on board with that!
BooRadley, Liberal: don’t hold your breath waiting for term limits. The SCOTUS rules in 1995 (US Term Limits, Inc., vs. Thornton) that states may not impose term limits on Federal elective offices. Constitutional amendments introduced at the same time fell well short of the 2/3 majority required for passage in the House.
Term limits might (or might not) be a good idea, but the point is moot. It ain’t gonna happen any time soon.
Jonn,
I hope that when they asked you told ’em to f**k off.
Term limits AND an absolute prohibition on ANY INCOME outside of Congressional salary. I don’t care how much money someone earns but when that someone earns millions through magical investments that miracuously paid off while that someone was in office, I have a problem believing that their sudden investment skills had nothing to with introducing or backing bills or otherwise wielding influence.
2-17 AirCav: I think I found your Bolivian mouse. See the comments in the “Weebles” thread.
One practical problem with the limitation on all outside income is that it effectively prohibits a Congressman/woman from even having a savings account (interest income) and forces them to get rid of any property they might have when they’re elected (rental property, stocks, etc . . . ) with no legitimate way to invest the proceeds. The requirement for a professionally-run blind trust I might buy, though.
How many knuckleheads promised to be a one termer only to find that they must “despite my promise nott to seek re-election, the important work of the people of [fill in state or district here] is unfinished and I mean to finish what I began–for them!”
Translation: I really didn’t lie before. I meant it when I said it. It’s just that now I get free everything, a fat expense account; People have to go through others to meet with me; Strangers hold the door for me and want me at their parties! Journalists want my views; Talk-show hosts want my opinions. Life is so grand. I just can’t walk away from this! I just can’t!”
@32. Yes! That’s the Bolivian Mouse. Thank you loads. I owe you one. That was driving me nuts. (As you see, it doesn’t take much to make me crazy.)
2-17 AirCav: de nada, amigo. Glad I could help. I understand the frustration of trying to find something that you know you’ve seen before but can’t find when you need it.
There’s no specific category for Gitmo detainees, but this article is something directly related to both the WH and Gitmo:
http://www.wgntv.com/news/chi-durbin-feds-to-write-165-million-check-to-state-for-unused-prison-20121002,0,4751239.story
Pay particular attention to this paragraph, near the middle of the article:
Veteran Virginia Republican Rep. Frank Wolf had long blocked the federal Bureau of Prisons purchase of the prison from the state of Illinois, saying he did not trust the Obama administration’s vow not to transfer suspected terrorists from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, into the facility despite a federal law that prohibits such moves. Wolf also said he did not trust Attorney General Eric Holder, whom the GOP-led House found in contempt for the failed Fast and Furious gun-walking program.
I can’t make a comment that is less than obscene, so I won’t make one. The purchase of this prison can provide badly needed jobs to the Rockford area.
What a god damn pork chop this is turning out to be.
The first order of business after Nov 6 is FIRE that turd Dempsey !
Then lets start bringing em home, fast !
Let those effing heathens live in their hell, the time for winning it was 10 years ago.
But we need to make perfectly clear to them that if they make it scumbag central again, the repercussions will be grave. I.E. Kiloton warheads.
Those who think that Romney will clean house if elected will be sorely disappointed.
Sadly, this is almost certainly the case. Even if Zombie Reagan was elected, administrations come and go, but the BUREAUCRACY lives forever, and that’s what has to change (but won’t. EVER.)
Jonn,
Once again, TAH brings us correct information.
How many casualties have we suffered in Afghanistan this year from combat compared to green-on-blue?
I bet Gen Dempsey, Panetta, and Obama all know the answer. And I bet Obama doesn’t care. Can’t you just imagine him rationalizing the green on blue deaths as casualties among an all-volunteer military in a combat zone? I can. I also can imagine the outcry from the military, their families, and veterans from unsuccessful attempts to help Obama understand the difference between casualties from combat and casualties because leadership won’t change a stupid plan for political reasons.
In the liberal’s world view, everyone works for the state, so why not sacrifice a few soldiers here an there?
It all makes me feel ill. If Gen Dempsey were Japanese, he would be sharpening his sword for ritual suicide as a political tool and complete failure.
I have some friends here who know a recently critically wounded Soldier. Just with the timing of things they’ve said, 2 and 2 are adding up to 4 pretty easily. They fight with honor and are focused, but the enemy fooked with the wrong hombres if that’s the case.
It’s going to get worse.