Random Thoughts: David Rohde Escapes!
Jun 20 at 11:11pm by David Tate
I originally reported on this back in February and took a lot of flak in doing so for obvious reasons.
However, I still stand by my decision because it is just dangerous ground when journalists get into self serving censorship. I say self-serving, because just a month prior to Mr. Rohde going missing, the NYT wrote this article: Times’ Article
This man is still missing, btw.
The fact is, the NYT has published MANY articles that have put people’s lives at risk, either directly or indirectly (the above link would be an example, if you use the NYT’ logic).
Don’t get me wrong: I do not disagree with the NYT publishing sensitive stories, I just think their integrity slips and ethics are pushed when they bend the rules for one of their own.
That said, I am elated that Mr. Rohde is free and escaped getting there. My main concern was the millions of dollars that one day may be needed buying his freedom; money for IEDs, enevitably used in the killing of countless coalition soldiers and Afghan civilians and police.
I’m sure David has thought of that as well and he should get to sleep better at night because of it. Now let’s hope the remaining captive, Assadullah Mangal, is not harmed. Not sure that’s plausible.
DT
Edited for clarity 6/22 1802 -
I have also retracted this statement, “Particularly when they were outting agents and leaking other state secrets.” While I believe the NYT has written MANY stories, good or bad, that have led to harm befalling others, intentional or not, I would not call the NYT treasonous; therefore “state secrets” needs to go. I also made a flat out error linking Valarie Plame (Novak/WSJ) to the Times. Sorry.
I stand by the rest. Good journalism leads to great stories and often times a consequence of such journalism are peoples’ lives. My only point in making this statement in the first place is to show that a story is a story; they all affect lives and they should all be treated the same. A military operation was launched in November to find Rohde and that’s a story. Rohde was one on a long list of abducted foreigners in 2008 and that’s a story; the others we heard about. Why is that?
A Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, normally employed by the New York Times is missing in Afghanistan while trying to interview the Taliban. That is a story no matter how you slice it. I’ll be reading the book.
Remember June 6, 1944
Jun 4 at 8:08am by David Tate
Bedford Co., VA - The upcoming 65th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion that touches all of us here in southwestern Virginia simply because the National D-Day Memorial is in our backyard. But it wouldn’t be so, if it weren’t for one man- Bob Slaughter. It’s a name many of us have grown familiar with over the years as it has with thousands of others all around the world. It isn’t a legacy Slaughter ever would have imagined himself sharing. It’s one he takes seriously if only to preserve homage to the casualties of that war.
“The news we didn’t want to hear arrived like the shock of a thunderbolt. It was a simple briefing. ‘Men,’ he said, ‘We’re going back up- assemble the platoon.’ Everyone of us gulped. We all knew what he meant,” Slaughter said.
Surrounded by the relics of a war long gone by, Bob Slaughter is never far away from the action that killed so many men and helped shape a world in so many ways. His first taste of death, at just 17, came when his ship collided with a British ship, killing 332 sailors as he and his fellow soldiers made their way to England.
“We thought we had seen something when you see 332 sailors drown, but we hadn’t seen anything, the worst was yet to come,” Slaughter said.
He and his friends, many from southwestern Virginia, would be the first Americans to hit the beach when the Allies made a move to liberate Europe.
“We were the first to hit the beaches- Omaha, the worst beach,” Slaughter said.
The first American he saw die barely made it off the landing craft. “The first guy I saw killed was hit with the front of the landing craft and died- right in front of our eyes,” Slaughter said. Moments later, more Virginians would die- 21 from Bedford alone- would die on June 6, 1944. “He started screaming and hollering and then one of our medics went to help him and they shot him too. Then we had two guys screaming,” Slaughter said.
And that wasn’t the end for Slaughter and tens of thousands of others. The allies would need another 11 months to fight their way into the heart of Germany, and ultimately, victory over the Nazis. That was 65 years ago, memories that faded over the decades until the late 80’s.
“Very little until recently, the last 10 years I guess, when we talked about the D-Day memorial,” he said. Ever since then, Slaughter has been busy promoting the memorial, which was dedicated in 2001. His work highly regarded by his
Fellow veterans, men like Jack Shields. “He deserves a lot of credit for that, that’s for sure. He’s a fine fellow; he’s a hero,” Shields said.
“I’m not a hero. I’ve got all my limbs, a couple scars, some shrapnel in the back,” Slaughter said. Slaughter’s experience has also turned into a book- a written record of his war ordeal.
“Now it seems like everyone knows who I am. I’m not real happy about that but, you know, if it will do the job, you have to do it,” Slaughter said.
A job Slaughter accepts in his golden years, not for himself, but for those who weren’t as lucky. “We were going back to death, destruction and fear. We were all painfully aware that many of us would be wounded and others of us would soon be dead,” he said.
At 84, Slaughter is one of the younger World War II veterans. He joined in 1940 at the age of 15. He says this could very well be the last major reunion for the battles’ veterans.
Slaughter is scheduled to lay a wreath at the D-Day Memorial during the anniversary ceremony on Saturday.
Video? Go here –> DDay Video
Op Ed: What’s This AGF Crap!?
May 19 at 8:08pm by David Tate
Listen, it’s time to coin a proper term to get the press, and public, in line with the facts. It is time to officially coronate the enemies of the Afghan government, and ultimately coalition forces, as Anti Government Forces or AGF for short.
I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this, because frankly, I have none. However, I do want to post two challenges in regards to my newly coined acronym. The fact is, the coalition are fighting two distinct insurgencies in Afghanistan. The first, that keeps those in Regional Command South busy, is certainly a primarily Pashtun-led insurgency that is nationalist and religiously based to an extreme. However, there are also drug dealers, foreigners and criminals also well represented.
In Regional Command East, not only are you dealing with Pashtun nationalists, but wahabbi extremists, islamic revolutionaries, timber barons, drug smuglers, al Qaeda operatives, nationalists, opportunists and, of course, Taliban.
Point is, there are dozens of groups with dozens of issues loosely operating together in a fluidity of rivalry, opportunity and convenience and they are NOT all Taliban. They ARE all AGF.
Challenges: The press needs to call it as it is… AGF. Second, someone with more time than me please write an article about all the AGF! I’ll publish it!
AGF Assault Multiple Bases in Eastern Afghanistan
May 13 at 8:08am by David Tate
Camp Salerno - 2004
Anti Government Forces (AGF) attacked three different Forward Operating Bases and assaulted a provincial center May 12 that left at least 16 AGF and nine civilians dead.
The US military says just afternoon three suicide bombers, one wearing an Afghan Security Forces uniform, stormed the governor’s compound in the former Taliban stronghold of Khowst (province is same name). Two of the terrorists were killed by US and Afghan forces and were found wearing explosive vests.
Shortly after, a group of bombers attacked the municipal building a took several civilians hostage. During the assault, one bomber was shot and killed. However, two bombers blew themselves up inside the building. US and Afghan forces then assaulted the building, killing two more AGF and freeing four hostages inside.
The entire engagement lasted just under five hours and seven civilians dead and 20 others wounded. Six Afghan security members were injured as were three US service members.
Later that evening outside of Camp (FOB) Salerno, which lies adjacent to Khowst City, an IED exploded, injuring a number of civilians. This story is still developing.
To the south in Paktika Province, AGF rocket teams launched a barrage of rockets at two Forward Operating Bases (Sharana and Rushmore). During that attack, US counter-battery fire and nearby aircraft killed six AGF and two civilians. Four other civilians were injured. No US casualties were reported during this incident.
US: “Taliban Responsible For Casualties in Farah”
May 12 at 12:12pm by David Tate
A US statement just released points the blame at Taliban insurgents for the deaths and maiming of dozens of civilians with white phosphorus (WP) munitions. This is the latest in a PR blitz countering claims that the US military used WP against insurgents and civilians late last week.
KABUL, Afghanistan –An ongoing joint Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces investigation team found evidence Friday of non-combatant casualties caused by Taliban fighters’ actions in Farah province.
Investigators interviewed the Surgeon and staff of the Farah Hospital and the three doctors on duty on Tuesday. They treated 16 patients, five ANP and 11 civilians, for flash burns and small lacerations. Afghan doctors said injuries could have resulted from hand grenades or exploding propane tanks.
Local doctors also confirmed that the Taliban were fighting from the roof tops while forcing the locals to remain in their compounds. Locals receiving medical treatment repeated this information to the doctors several times. The doctors also received a call, while the investigators where present, indicating that the Taliban extremists had executed another civilian in the same village.
A large number of Taliban fighters, to include non-Afghans, consolidated on Ganj Abad and Grani villages Sunday, and demanded payments from villagers. The fighters executed three civilians to trigger a response from the Afghan Police that they could ambush.
“We regret the loss of any civilian life,” said Col. Greg Julian. “But we strongly condemn the brutality of the Taliban extremists deliberately targeting Afghan civilians and using them as human shields.”
At least nine children and one teacher at a girls’ school were injured when militants attacked an ISAF base in Kunar province yesterday morning with two rounds of indirect fire. A suicide bomber also killed 16 civilians and injured 31 others in Helmand late Friday.
US Says Taliban Uses White Phosphorus
May 11 at 9:09pm by David Tate
In response to international outrage over the US supposedly using White Phosphorus munitions in civilian areas, the Americans have released the following list of 44 insurgent attacks, or discovered caches, involving white phosphorus. The coalition denies using these munitions that cause severe, indiscriminate burns.
(U) Background: In response to claims that insurgents in Afghanistan are not using, nor have access to, white phosphorus (WP) munitions, ISAF RC-East conducted a summary database query, by which a total of 44 instances of reported enemy WP incidents were uncovered and declassified on 11 MAY 09. Thirty-eight of those occurred in RC-East and are released in this document. Our research also revealed six WP events that occurred in other ISAF regions; this list is available upon request from ISAF PAO press office at pressoffice@hq.isaf.nato.int.
(U) Discussion: Three means of white phosphorus use and access by insurgents can be identified: 1) improvised explosive devices, 2) indirect fire attacks, and 3) ordnance caches or UXO. It is notable that the enemy has stockpiled and used white phosphorus in attacks since 2003 and as recently as the week prior to this release. It should also be noted that these instances have occurred in nearly every province in RC-East, which demonstrates the wide availability of white phosphorus to insurgents. Finally, it is important to note that insurgent stockpiles do not necessarily derive from old Soviet-era left-behind stocks; the white phosphorus munitions found in these 38 events have their origins in a wide range of countries. Also, the vast majority of white phosphorus rounds found in listed caches were determined to be in serviceable condition.
1. Improvised Explosive Devices using White Phosphorus:
(U) 1.1 On 5 FEB 2009, an ISAF unit observed a white phosphorus detonation, determined to be a 107mm WP rocket IED, near a civilian district center in Sabari District, Khost province.
(U) 1.2 On 15 SEP 2008, an ISAF patrol conducting road clearance discovered an IED rigged with one 120mm white phosphorus round, in the Sabari District of Khost province.
(U) 1.3 In MAR 2008, an ISAF convoy in Mandozai District, Khost province, was struck by a vehicular suicide IED, wounding one service member and one local national. Investigators later determined that the IED charge contained both white phosphorus and high explosives.
(U) 1.4 On 9 FEB 2008, a white phosphorus round exploded in the vicinity of an ISAF forward operating base, in Behsood District, Nangarhar province.
(U) 1.5 On 10 JAN 2008, an ISAF EOD team destroyed a Russian 122mm white phosphorus round placed in the vicinity of an ISAF forward operating base in Nader Shah Kwot District, Khost province.
(U) 1.6 On 1 DEC 2007, Coalition forces on patrol discovered an 81mm white phosphorus mortar round set in the vicinity of a convoy in Waza Khwa District, Paktika province.
(U) 1.7 On 23 MAR 07, an ISAF EOD team discovered and defused a 122mm white phosphorus mortar round emplaced on the side of a road in Gardez District, Paktya province.
2. Indirect Fire Attacks using White Phosphorus:
(U) 2.1 On 7 MAY 2009, an ISAF outpost reported receiving two rounds of indirect white phosphorus fire, in Charkh District, Logar province.
(U) 2.2 On 11 AUG 2008, ISAF forces on patrol located a 107mm white phosphorus rocket tube that insurgents had prepositioned to fire in the direction of a nearby ISAF forward operating base in Goshta District, Nangarhar province.
(U) 2.3 On 28 JUN 2008, insurgents fired a white phosphorus rocket at an ISAF outpost in Bermel District, Paktika province.
(U) 2.4 On 4 JAN 2008, insurgents fired nine white phosphorus rounds at an ISAF forward operating base in Darreh-ye PichDistrict, Kunar province.
(U) 2.5 On 21 NOV 2007, insurgents fired at least one white phosphorus rocket at an ISAF forward operating base in Zadran District, Paktya province.
(U) 2.6 On 2 OCT 2007, insurgents fired two 107mm white phosphorus rockets at an ISAF forward operating base in Gelan District, Ghazni province.
(U) 2.7 On 4 AUG 2007, insurgents launched an indirect fire attack on an ISAF outpost, using HE and white phosphorus rounds in Dara Pech District, Kunar province.
(U) 2.8 On 25 MAY 2007, an insurgent mortar team fired two white phosphorus rounds at an ISAF bridge construction site in the Darreh-ye Pich District, Konar province.
(U) 2.9 On 25 MAY 2007, insurgents bombarded an ISAF outpost with 10 rounds of white phosphorus, in Darreh-ye Pich District, Kunar province.
(U) 2.10 On 13 MAY 2007, insurgents fired five white phosphorus mortar rounds at an ISAF outpost in Chawki District, Kunar province.
(U) 2.11 On 11 APR 2007, insurgents fired five white phosphorus mortar rounds at an Afghan National Army compound in Watah Pur District, Konar province.
(U) 2.12 On 26 MAR 2004, Afghan locals intercepted and drove off an insurgent mortar team setting up a group of rockets in the vicinity of an ISAF forward operating base. Coalition responders later destroyed the rockets, including one white phosphorus round, in Khost District of Khost province.
3. Insurgent Caches and UXO Finds of White Phosphorus:
(U) 3.1 On 20 JAN 2009, ISAF troops discovered a diverse weapons and ammunition cache that included three 82mm white phosphorus mortar rounds, in Chowreh District, Oruzgan province.
(U) 3.2 On 24 NOV 2008, an ISAF EOD team located and collected a weapons cache including two 107mm white phosphorus rockets, in Pol-e ‘alam District, Logar province.
(U) 3.3 On 06 JAN 07, an ISAF patrol detected and destroyed an unexploded ordnance find that included one 122mm white phosphorus round in Terezai District, Khost province.
(U) 3.4 On 27 OCT 2006, an ISAF EOD team found a major ordnance cache that included six 122mm white phosphorus rounds in Bagram District, Parwan province.
(U) 3.5 On 23 DEC 2005, a Coalition unit discovered a sizable cache of ammunition and ordnance, including six 82mm white phosphorus mortar rounds, in Kohe Safi District, Parwan province.
(U) 3.6 On 12 DEC 2005, Afghan National Police found a cached mortar assembly, including one white phosphorus round, in Jaguri District, Ghazni province.
(U) 3.7 On 9 JUL 2005, an ISAF unit discovered hundreds of rounds of cached ordnance, including 27 rounds of 82mm white phosphorus mortar ammunition, in Qalandar District, Khost province.
(U) 3.8 On 26 MAR 2005, an Afghan National Police patrol reported a cache of various munitions, which ISAF responders identified and removed, including one 82mm white phosphorus mortar round, in Jalrez District, Wardak province.
(U) 3.9 On 19 MAR 2005, an ISAF unit found a cache of ordnance and IED-making materials including five 82mm white phosphorus mortar rounds, in Sharana District, Paktika province.
(U) 3.10 On 13 MAR 2005, Coalition troops discovered a cache of various ordnance including one 82mm white phosphorus round in Shahid E-Hassas District, Oruzgan province.
(U) 3.11 On 12 MAR 2005, local nationals led an ISAF unit to a cache of ordnance, including eight 107mm white phosphorus rockets, in Mosa Khail District, Khost province.
(U) 3.12 On 19 FEB 2005, an ISAF unit received a tip of a weapons cache in Khogyani District, Nangarhar province. The search revealed IED-making materials as well as two 82mm white phosphorus rounds.
(U) 3.13 On 1 OCT 2004, an ISAF unit discovered an ordnance cache containing an 82mm white phosphorus mortar round and other munitions of Chinese, Russian, Iranian, British origin, in Waza Khwa District, Paktika province.
(U) 3.14 On 13 SEP 2004, an ISAF unit located a cache of ordnance and weapons of various origin, including one round of Russian white phosphorus mortar ammunition, in Orgun District, Paktika province.
(U) 3.15 On 24 MAY 2004, an ISAF unit discovered an ordnance cache that included one 81mm and two 122mm white phosphorus rounds, in Zarghunshahr District, Paktika province.
(U) 3.16 On 5 APR 2004, an ISAF EOD team destroyed multiple weapons caches that included four white phosphorus rounds of various national origin, in Sarowbi District, Kabul province.
(U) 3.17 On 15 MAR 2004, Afghan security forces led ISAF troops to a large cache containing several hundred rounds of ordnance, including six 107mm white phosphorus rounds, in Qareh Bagh District, Ghazni province.
(U) 3.18 On 22 APR 2003, Coalition personnel located an ordnance cache that included four 82mm white phosphorus mortar rounds in Khar Konar District, Konar province.
(U) 3.19 On 6 FEB 2003, ISAF units, following a local tip, destroyed a 107mm white phosphorus rocket found in Bermel District, Paktika province.
Missing Soldier Found in Kunar
May 6 at 8:08am by David Tate
The body of a soldier missing since a May 1 attack in Kunar Province has been found. SSgt. William Vile of Philidelphia was killed with two other Americans and two Latvian soldiers when their small outpost was attacked by an overwhelming Taliban force in Nishagam, Ghaziabad district. Three Afghan soldiers also died and as many as 14 remain missing. The men were part of an international mentoring team assigned to train the Afghan National Army.
General Update
May 5 at 8:08am by David Tate
I know it seems as though I have fallen off the planet in the past month. Weird how that always happens after an embed. Regardless, let me quickly catch you up.
I made it home from Afghanistan in great health and spirit. Unfortunately, a month later, I was fired from my NBC affiliate in a year long blood letting session that most broadcast companies are currently embroiled in. To say I was upset is an understatement. I enjoyed my job, my company and the city I live in. Now I am almost completely broke (from Afghanistan), without a job and a serious need to most likely sell my just-refinanced house and move. Understand that Roanoke, Virginia is not a major metropolis and jobs in my field are limited.
Still in a daze, I went home and immediately signed onto a TV job website to see where my prospects might be and wouldn’t you know the one-man band reporter job, for ROANOKE, was available at the ABC affiliate. Best part is, the News Director AND General Manager were my first ND and GM in this business back in 1996. Weirder yet, it was at the NBC affiliate I just left!!
Long story short, I have been busy getting used to the three year contract I just signed. In my free time, I am working hard to get the Getty submission in the mail. Beyond that, I am still working on videos from the embed and will have something available soon. Hell, I haven’t even done my taxes yet…
So, while I work on Afghanistan stuff, here’s a link to my latest story at my “day job”. Enjoy.
Mail Call
Apr 21 at 2:02pm by David Tate
In January and February 2009, US Marines with India Co., 3rd Battalion, Eighth Marines launched two operations to clear a road, called Route 515, that connected two district center in Farah Province, Afghanistan. The two cities, Deleram and Bakwa, are the hubs of social and financial activity for thousands of Afghans. The Marines objective is to open this road to allow people to get their goods to market and to stop Taliban and smugglers from making their way to and from Iran.
One of the first signs of success though is in the shape of brownies and smiles as the US mail uses this new route to keep troop morale high in a difficult environment.
Final Diary Post From Embed ‘09
Apr 20 at 10:10pm by David Tate
Dave and Abdullah at the Mustafa Hotel
My final night in Kabul was perfect. I got some good eats from the hotel restaurant, we ordered a bottle of Stoli and spent time with some American contractors who had ventured our way for the night.
For the most part, we all just hung out talking and playing pool, which is really all you can do unless there’s work to be done. It was during this time I realized just how messed up the procurement system for these wars truly is.
I crept in on the backside of a conversation where one contractor was complaining to another about how a new company has a contract for $75,000 per month to maintain their six generators.
“Hell, we gotta guy on staff already that can do that,” said one of the men.
None of them could figure out why so much was being paid for so little service, especially when there was already someone on staff with the qualifications.
That’s when I chimed in about a program General Motors used back in the 50’s and 60’s to improve efficiency.
“What if there was a program in place that would reward people for blowing the whistle,” I asked.
“Hah,” replied one of the contractors. “They’d all pack up and go home. They already have their money.”
Just to reinforce this: Did you all know that Kellog Brown and Root, one of the biggest profiteers in both wars and billed an American company, is actually located offshore. In other words: They don’t even pay taxes! They make a killing off the wars and then get even richer by not paying taxes (robbing the very people making them rich). You really want to get pork under control? Get serious about accountability and oversight in Afghanistan and Iraq. I don’t even want to research how much has been stolen from the US taxpayers… I get too angry.
Thursday Febraury 26th
Packing for the trip home was a bit easier on the way out. While at the Mustafa I met a freelance photographer who seems to embody much of the spirit that drives me. While talking to her, she revealed that she wanted to do some embedding with military forces, but had no body armor. So we struck a deal that saw me leaving both armor and kevlar for her to use in exchange for a donation (and my gear back) once she returns (see, I’m not always an asshole). Of course, since this equipment is my #2 investement, she will also be responsible for it in the event it is ruined or stolen. Interestingly enough she is a grandmother. Check out Janet Killeen’s travels here: Zones of Conflict.
Another blog to follow into the fighting season is a young gent named Connor Powell. Connor is a VMI graduate who spent some time in local news before selling his life off to the adventure of freelance war coverage. You can track his travels here: Conor Powell.
Heading Home
I got a ride to the airport from Abdullah, the guy who runs the Mustafa. We drove by my old house and it really was a bit surreal leaving again, but I was ready to go. I had less than $10 in my pocket and couldn’t get out quick enough.
Other than getting searched eight times at the Kabul Airport, the trip to Dubai was painless. Once there, the plan was to try to switch flights and make it home a day earlier. That didn’t work out because only one plane leaves Dubai for Atlanta per night… and it is usually full. No different this time.
Knowing that a hotel in Dubai would cost me a ton of money, I was in the market for something economical. So imagine my luck when I ran into some other Americans in the same position as me. One guy was on vacation and heading to Virginia Beach; another was in Dubai trying to make a gold deal that fell through. The three of us ended up getting a hotel room, that split three ways, cost $105 each!! Best part is that I took the floor because I had sleeping gear. Imagine that: Spending the night in a ritzy hotel in Dubai, only to sleep on the floor.
Friday February 27th
None of us really had any money to spend in Dubai, so instead of taking a taxi around the emirate taking in the sights, we all chose to go to the airport and wait it out… 15 hours worth of waiting! Whatever… 17 hours after that, I’d be home.
This about wraps up the diary portion of this trip. I still have a bunch of videos to get out, so check back often!
RECENT COMMENTS