http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/32467.html
DNI: Politics impedes investigation
The nations top spy says politics is hindering the ability of intelligence
officials to deal with the aftermath of the Christmas Day bombing attempt.
Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair says the politicking on the
issue has been high and that it hasnt been very
particularly good for the intelligence community even as his
own White House bosses and congressional Republicans continue to spar over
the issue, leaking information to the media and hammering each other in public.
__________
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
February 3, 2010
Statement by the Director of Communications Arthur House
The article published by Politico today regarding testimony of the Director
of National Intelligence before the House Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence is inaccurate and irresponsible. The DNI did not criticize the
Administration in any way the assertion that he did is simply wrong.
The DNI stated that the combination of reality and politics regarding the
December 25 attempted terrorist attack is surprising and that the Intelligence
Community is trying to bring intelligence and law enforcement to bear on
those who threaten our country. To suggest that his statement is a
blast at the White House distorts words clearly spoken and seeks
to create a conflict where none exits.
SAS Counter Terrorism Training Base Expansion
http://www.secret-bases.co.uk/secret2.htm#SAS
New aerial imagery uploaded to Google Earth in February 2010 (shot in May
2009), when compared with the previous 2001 data, reveals an expansion programme
at the UK Special Forces SAS counter terrorism CT training unit, hidden in
a forest clearing somewhere in the UK. Secret Bases watchers will be familiar
with the infamous mock-up jet in the middle of nowhere used for hostage rescue
scenarios, but the latest imagery now reveals a substantial new ring fenced
compound next to it ...
Alan Turnbull
www.secret-bases.co.uk
Afpak Fun
Afpak Photo War Archive:
info/afpak-archive/afpak-archive.htm
Staff Sgt. Rusty H. Christian, 24, of Greenville, Tenn., died Jan. 28 in
Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked
his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Lance Cpl. Michael L. Freeman Jr., 21, of Fayetteville, Pa., died Feb. 1
while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was
assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Two soldiers died Jan. 29 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained
while supporting combat operations. Killed were:
Capt. David J. Thompson, 39, of Hooker, Okla., who was assigned to the 3rd
Battalion 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Spc. Marc P. Decoteau, 19, of Waterville Valley, N.H., who was assigned to
the 6th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), 4th Psychological
Operations Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.
Spanish army soldiers comfort the sister of a dead Spanish soldier John Felipe
Romero Meneses, as his coffin arrives at Barcelona airport February 2, 2010.
Romero was killed in Afghanistan on Monday and another six soldiers were
injured when the vehicle they were travelling in was damaged by a land mine
explosion near Sang Atesh, in northwest Afghanistan. Reuters
U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Roberts scans the hills surrounding Korengal Valley,
during an early morning patrol, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, Aug. 13,
2009. Roberts is a member, of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry
Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, out of Fort Carson,
Colo. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller/Released). Date Posted: 2/1/2010
A U.S. Soldier, with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment,
4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division patrols Korengal Valley, in
Kunar province, Afghanistan, Aug. 13, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew
Moeller/Released). Date Posted: 2/1/2010
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Gregory Moulton fires at insurgent positions,
during an early morning gun battle, in Korengal Valley, at Kunar province,
Afghanistan, Aug. 13, 2009. Moulton is attached to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion,
12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, out
of Fort Carson, Colo. Many Airman fight side by side, with U.S. Army units,
serving as liaisons between ground forces and U.S. Air Force bombers and
fighter jets, patrolling Afghan airspace. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew
Moeller/Released) Date Posted: 2/1/2010
U.S. Army Sgt. Graham Mullins, right, gives an order to U.S. Army Pvt. 1st
Class Damian Gardner, as insurgents fire on their position, during an early
morning gun battle in Korengal Valley, at Kunar province, Afghanistan, Aug.
13, 2009. Mullins and Gardner are infantrymen, with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion,
12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, out
of Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller/Released).
Date Posted: 2/1/2010
U.S. Army and Air Force personnel, assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion,
12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, return
fire, at insurgent positions, in the steep hillside, of Korengal Valley,
in Kunar province, Afghanistan, Aug. 13, 2009. The 20-minute gun battle ended
with 500 pound bombs, dropped by U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter jets, destroying
insurgent positions in the surrounding hills. No civilians were injured during
the battle. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller/Released). Date Posted:
2/1/2010
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joel McPherson calls in an airstrike on insurgent
positions, in the steep hills of Korengal Valley, at Kunar province, Afghanistan,
Aug. 13, 2009. McPherson, a joint terminal attack controller, is attached
to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division,
based out of Fort Carson, Colo. McPherson relays coordinates to U.S. Air
Force F-15 Fighter Jets for an air-strike, as U.S. Soldiers, with Bravo Company,
2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division, return fire, at insurgent positions. U.S. Air Force Airmen fight
side by side with their U.S. Army counterparts, serving as joint terminal
attack controllers, responsible for coordinating air-strikes for ground forces.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller/Released). Date Posted: 2/1/2010
A U.S. Army Soldier, from Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment,
4th Infantry Division, watches as an artillery barrage destroys insurgent
fighting positions, after a 20 minute gun battle, in Korengal Valley at Kunar
province, Afghanistan, Aug. 13, 2009. The U.S. Army?s 9,900 pound M-777 Howitzer
Artillery Cannon is capable of firing a 105-pound round up to 18 miles. Soldiers
throughout Afghanistan rely heavily on its lethal fire power to eliminate
anti-Afghan force positions, which are often too heavily fortified to be
destroyed by rifle fire. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller/Released).
Date Posted: 2/1/2010
U.S. Soldiers, from the 118th Military Police Company, out of Fort Bragg,
N.C., and a group of Afghan National Police officers patrol up the side of
a hill, on their way into the village of Mongow Khel, to speak with Afghan
village elders, in Logar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 2, 2010. Missions like
this one help with security in the area. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell
Gilchrest/Released) Location: FOB Shank. Date Posted: 2/2/2010
U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Herendeen of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry
Regiment, 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, leads Afghan National Army
soldiers while searching multiple caves for weapons during Operation Wawraa
Tufaan in Zanbar Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 31, 2010. (U.S. Army Photo by
Sgt. Jeffrey Alexander/Released) Location: Coalition Outpost Sabari. Date
Posted: 2/1/2010
A Czech Army sniper watches the surrounding area for any possible threats
from an Observation Point next to a traffic control point being ran by Afghan
National Police near the city of Pole-elam, Logar Province, Afghanistan,
Jan. 30, 2010. Operations like this one prove to be a valuable tool in the
effort for providing security in the area. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Russell
Gilchrest\Released). Location: FOB Shank. Date Posted: 2/1/2010
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