Gunner's Blog

Iraqi Security Force Net Three Primary Targets

Below is a link to a press release from MULTINATIONAL CORPS IRAQ about two separate operations conducted near Baghdad by Iraqi Security Forces which ended with the capture of three primary insurgent targets.

Press Release URL:

http://www.centcom.mil/sites/uscentcom1/Lists/Press%20Releases/DispForm.aspx?ID=3451&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecentcom%2Emil%2Fsites%2Fuscentcom1%2FLists%2FPress%2520Releases%2FCurrent%2520Releases%2Easpx

IRAQI ARMY, MND-N SOLDIER LAUNCH OPERATION GAUGAMELA

KIRKUK, Iraq (July 20, 2006) – Thursday morning, Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 4th Iraqi Army Division and Bastogne Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division simultaneously surrounded and entered the cities of Hawija and Riyadh, just west of Kirkuk, searching for suspected al-Qaeda terrorists as combined Operation Gaugamela (gaw'guh-MEE-luh), gets underway.

The ongoing operation, requested by local Sunni Arab leaders, follows a series of terror attacks in the area, and comes as there are reports indicating the presence of al-Qaeda terror cells in the area. In the past five weeks, 31 Iraqi soldiers have been killed in terrorist attacks in the region and just three days ago six policemen were killed in Hawija.

In Hawija, Bastogne Soldiers and Iraqi Security Forces surrounded the city, blocking off escape routes, as another combined force air assaulted into the market in the heart of the city. The units are cordoning off the area and searching for terrorist forces. Meanwhile, Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces surrounded the village of Riyadh, approximately 10 miles away, and are also searching that city.

Operation Gaugamela is named for the battle in which Alexander drove the Persian army from the city of Gaugamela.

For more information concerning this release, contact Major Greg Bishop,
gregory.bishop(at)campbell.army.mil

U.S. Central Command Public Affairs Media Engagement Team

FOB Courage to be turned over to Iraqi government

FOB Courage to be turned over to Iraqi government

MOSUL, Iraq – Task Force Band of Brothers will turn over control of the former Saddam Hussein presidential compound here to Iraqi government officials in a ceremony in Mosul July 20.

The Mosul VIP Residence site, built over 2.2 square kilometers and completed in 1994, contained Saddam Hussein's northernmost presidential site and includes several palaces and VIP residences, three lakes, and man-made waterfalls. According to the complex’s pre-war caretaker, it was built for Saddam Hussein’s son, Qusay. Apparently, neither Hussein nor his sons actually stayed there.

The main palace has been home to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Division Main Command Post, Task Force Olympia CP, and Task Force Freedom CP, situated in one of the former regime's palace buildings overlooking the Tigris.

The compound has also served as headquarters during some of its greatest successes in Iraq. Notable among those many successes was the May 5, 2003 Mosul city and Ninewa provincial council elections, the first post-Saddam Hussein election in Iraq.

While serving as northern headquarters, it played host to many VIPs and dignitaries, among them: Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld; Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice; Secretary of Army Francis J. Harvey; nearly every U.S. Senator; comedian Robin Williams; and actor Bruce Willis.

Since the departure of Task Force Freedom in December 2005, the compound has been home to elements of the 172^nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and other coalition forces. Earlier this year, they began the task of vacating and restoring the compound in order to hand it over.

Extremists linked to drug trade

July 18, 2006

KABUL, Afghanistan - Coalition Soldiers have seized an estimated $3 million in opium from an extremist compound July 13 after a Coalition patrol held off more than two dozen fighters until additional firepower arrived.
Following the engagement, the Soldiers found five dead extremists, but believe many more were killed.
A search of the compound found 70 kilograms of opium paste, a rocket propelled grenade launcher, four rockets, an AK-47 and ammunition, a passport and other documents.
"Recovering these weapons and drugs increases the safety and security of Afghans, and reduces the danger posed by criminals and extremists who might use those munitions indiscriminately to cause harm on the Afghan people, Afghan security forces or Coalition forces ," said Col. Thomas Collins, Coalition spokesman. "This engagement also confirms with physical evidence that the extremists are linked to the drug trade in southern Afghanistan ."

Released by COMBINED FORCES COMMAND - AFGHANISTAN COALITION PRESS INFORMATION CENTER KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

San Diego Community Forum Posting

Hello Batman47:

You are not alone, Mr. Goldstein hasn't singled you out. In July of 2003 he wrote me an email indicating that publishing all Fleet Home Town News Center (FHTNC, Norfolk, Va) releases posed a security threat to our sailors and Marines. I had been publishing all of FHTNC's releases on my website (www.usafns.com); and Mr. Goldstein sent me an email identifying himself as the "Webmaster of the Navy" and asking me to cease publishing the releases.

I would have thought that the Webmaster of the Navy would have a full plate taking care of security of the US Navy's intranet and internet web servers. We certainly have had many breaches of US Navy internet security as has been prominently reported regarding the 100,000 records of Naval (Navy and Marine) Aviators and Aircrews. Recent news reports indicated that those records had been available on the US Navy Safety Centers website for about 6 months.

When Mr. Goldstein asked me to stop publishing the news releases, I respectfully declined, citing several arguments and statistacal information that a rational person would be forced to conclude that legally the releases became Public Domain at the moment the releases were mailed or e-mailed to any media outlet. See (http://www.usafns.com/cgi-bin/2005/09/chinfofhtncusafns-debacle-7-my.htm) for full details. CHINFO RAdm S. Pietripaoli ordered FHTNC to cease sending me email releases on 12 June 2003. Subsequent efforts to have that decision reversed have proven fruitless.

I have a question - since when does any arm of the US Navy have investigative and enforcement authority over any civilian, or civilian websites? Investing that authority in the Public Affairs arm of the US Navy is laughable.

I think that Mr. Goldstein should be reined in, and told to restrict his efforts to cleaning up the security issues within the Navy's cyberspace, and leave the civilian enforcement to the duly constituted Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement agencies.

To make it very short and unambiguous "He should mind his own business" and help identify and close security holes in the Navy's websites.

Regards,

Charles F. Mitchell

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Above is a posting I made in response to Batman47's posting on the San Diego Community Forum entitled:

Letter to Alan P. Goldstein CIV CHINFO WASHINGTON DC, CHINFO

Link: http://community.fox6.com/forums/thread/654650.aspx

Transfer of Security Responsibility in Muthanna Province

July 13, 2006

BAGHDAD – Iraq witnessed a historic event today with the transfer of security responsibility in Muthanna Province from the Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I) to the Provincial Governor and civilian-controlled Iraqi Security Forces.  The handover represents a milestone in the successful development of Iraq’s capability to govern and protect itself as a sovereign and democratic nation.  Muthanna is the first of Iraq’s 18 provinces to be designated for such a transition.

As Prime Minister Maliki announced on June 19, 2006, the joint decision between the Iraqi government and MNF-I to hand over security responsibility is the result of Muthanna’s demonstrated abilities to take the lead in managing its own security and governance duties at the provincial level. The transition decision also reflects a joint assessment of the overall threat situation in Muthanna, the capabilities of the ISF there and the provincial leadership’s ability to coordinate security. Transition teams are in place to smooth the transfer process and multi-national forces will stand ready to provide assistance if needed.

With this first transition of security responsibility, Muthanna demonstrates the progress Iraq is making toward self-governance. Several other provinces are close to meeting the criteria necessary to assume security independence. The Iraqi government and the Multi-National Force will continue to transfer security responsibilities in other provinces in Iraq as conditions are achieved.

Australian, Japanese, and the United Kingdom forces have assisted Muthanna authorities as models of international cooperation, providing economic and humanitarian assistance as well as security and stability.  As Iraq develops and its needs continue to evolve, so too will the nature of international assistance to Iraq in Muthanna and elsewhere.

The United States will provide $10 million in order to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Muthanna as they take a bold and courageous step forward in the country’s movement toward an independent and secure nation.  This event represents significant progress by the Government of Iraq to achieve a constitutional, democratic, and pluralistic Iraq which guarantees the rights of all citizens.

Reville

Here is a link to a very moving patriotic tear jerker - Play time is 11min 30sec, and well worth the time.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2487638612433437293&q=Vet

Who says that the US doesn't have a Ballistic Missile defense?

NEWS RELEASE

Missile Defense Agency http://www.mda.mil/

06-NEWS-0018 mda.info@mda.mil

22 June 2006 7100 Defense Pentagon

Missile Defense Test Results in Successful "Hit To Kill" Intercept

Air Force Lieutenant General Henry "Trey" Obering, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) director, announced the successful completion today of an important missile defense "hit to kill" intercept test conducted jointly with the U.S. Navy off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. The test involved the launch of a Standard Missile 3 (SM-3 Block IA) from the USS Shiloh, an Aegis-class cruiser, modified to perform the ballistic missile defense mission, and a hit to kill intercept of a "separating" target, meaning that the target warhead separated from its booster rocket. It was the seventh successful intercept test involving the sea-based component of the nation's ballistic missile defense system in eight attempts. "Hit to kill" technology uses only the direct collision of the interceptor missile with the target, totally destroying the target using only kinetic energy from the force of the collision.

"We are continuing to see great success with the very challenging technology of hit-to-kill, a technology that is used for all of our missile defense ground and sea-based interceptor missiles," said General Obering.

At approximately 12 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (6 p.m. EDT), a target missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. USS Shiloh's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense 3.6 Weapon System detected and tracked the target and developed a fire control solution. This was the USS Shiloh's first missile defense test since completing the necessary modifications and upgrades to its SPY-1 radar and advanced communications system to make it capable of serving as a sea-based missile defense platform. It was also the first time the new weapon system configuration, ballistic missile defense 3.6, and a new missile configuration were used during the intercept mission.

Approximately four minutes later, the USS Shiloh's crew fired the SM-3, and two minutes later the missile successfully intercepted the target warhead outside the earth's atmosphere more than 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean and 250 miles northwest of Kauai.

Three Aegis destroyers also participated in the flight test. One Aegis destroyer, equipped with a modified version of the Aegis ballistic missile defense weapon system, linked with a land-based missile defense radar to evaluate the ability of the ship's missile defense system to receive and utilize target cueing data via the missile defense system's command, control, battle management and communications architecture. Two other Aegis destroyers, including one from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, stationed off Kauai performed longrange surveillance and track exercises. This data can also be used to provide targeting information for other missile defense systems, including the ground-based long-range interceptor missiles now deployed in Alaska and California to protect all 50 states from a limited ballistic missile attack. Another U.S. Navy Aegis cruiser used the flight test to support development of a SPY-1B radar modified by the addition of a new signal processor, collecting performance data on its increased target detection and discrimination capabilities.

This event marked the first time that an allied military unit participated in a U.S. Aegis missile defense intercept test.

MDA and the U.S. Navy cooperatively manage the Aegis BMD Program. Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors of Moorestown, New Jersey is the Combat System Engineering Agent (CSEA) and prime contractor for the Aegis BMD Weapon System and Vertical Launch System installed in Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers. Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson, Arizona is the prime contractor for the SM-3 missile and all previous variants of Standard Missile.

Media contacts are Cheryl Irwin, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs, at (703) 697-5331, Chris Taylor, MDA Public Affairs, at (703) 901-9476 (cell)/(808) 335-4740 (PMRF) and Rick Lehner, MDA Public Affairs, at (703) 697-8997. Photos are available at (MDA and Navy Region Hawaii) websites. Post event video will be available 11pm - 12am (EDT), KuBand satellite Galaxy 10R, K23 36 MHz Analog, Frequency 14460.0H, DL Frequency 12160.0V. Trouble uplink 678-313-6001.

For national and international press agencies, unable to receive the satellite transmission, email navyvisualnews@navy.mil for access to an online distribution server. They can also be reached at (703) 614-9154.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~G - Click Below for some personal photos of the firing:

Missile Photos

30 Second Film Clip of Firing

http://www.shiloh.navy.mil

Navy Probes Data Leak on 100,000 Sailors, Marines

Washington Post

Reuters
Friday, July 7, 2006; 4:33 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Navy said Friday that it was trying to determine how personal information on more than 100,000 Navy and Marine Corp aviators and air crew wound up on a publicly available Web site for more than six months.

In a fresh case of private information on military personnel being compromised, the full names and social security numbers of both active and reserve members appeared on the Naval Safety Center Web site at www.safetycenter.navy.mil last December.

Those affected are believed to include any Navy or Marine Corp aviator who has served during the past 20 years.

The same information was also disseminated late last year to Navy and Marine Corps commands on 1,083 program disks mailed out as part of the service's Web Enabled Safety Program.

The Naval Safety Center found out about the problem and removed the information from the web site Thursday, a week after the recovery of a stolen Veterans Affairs Department laptop that contained sensitive information on more than 26 million U.S. military veterans and service members.

The center is now recalling the mailed program disks.

As in the case of the Veterans Affairs laptop, the Navy said there was no evidence that any of the disseminated data has been used illegally.

But the service is notifying those affected by mail and setting up a 24-hour call center to handle queries.

Safety center spokeswoman Evelyn Odango said the problem appeared to be an errant file.

"The information was inadvertently included in a file that was then posted on the Web," she said. "We found out about it through a Web site user and it was removed immediately."

REUTERS Reut14:36 07-07-06

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the sort of thing that really frosts my testicles - the "Webmaster" of the Navy and CHINFO ordered FHTNC to cease sending USAFNS.com bona fide news releases about our Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel. The reason cited was "security".

It reminds me of the Pink Panther movie wherein Inspector Clouseau (played by Peter Sellers) is on the sidewalk outside a bank hassling an organ grinder about his monkey, while the Bank is being robbed by armed bandits. The parallel is that the powers "that be" are fiddling around with minor internet issues of no consequence while major problems are jeopardizing national security.

See: http://www.usafns.com/cgi-bin/2005/09/introduction-and-index-of.htm - a diary of my efforts to reason with CHINFO.

Also See: http://www.usafns.com/searchgoogle.shtml for a simple study that proves that there are 10's of thousands of news releases about Navy and Marine Corps personnel. The very same FHTNC releases that USAFNS.com was publishing earlier.

~Gunner

Lack of Data Security in the Navy

    There is a great hullaballoo in the news about a stolen laptop and disks containing information on veterans and active duty service members such as names, SSNs, birthdates, etc. At least one civilian employee has been fired for having this information at home.   Until my retirement on December 31, 2004, I was a civilian employee of the Navy. Before I retired from the Fleet Hometown News Center, Norfolk, Va., my position description (PD) contained a critical element requiring me to create and maintain off site computer backups for disaster recovery purposes. No safe or other secure location was provided for the storage of these offsite backups--I just took them home. The backups contained personal information (names, SSNs, birthdates, names and addresses of parents, etc.) on more than 200,000 active duty Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel as well as the entire news release system and other related databases (Casualty, Command Information, Media, Hold Files). When I retired, my bosses collected my keys to the building, my ID card, and they even scraped the DoD base stickers off my car. Absolutely no one asked for the 30-plus offsite backups I had at home--material that I was REQUIRED to have at home. I always destroyed the excess copies monthly and the remaining disks were cut in two and tossed in the trash shortly after my retirement.



   I cannot help but wonder if the fired employee(s) were under similar circumstances where they were required to have the information off-site.

Betty N. Bashara

Norfolk, Virginia