Official Magazine of ISAF Issue 49 July 2008 MIRROR ISAFInternational Security Assistance Force • Issue 50 September 2008 • New Kajaki Dam turbine delivery a success Page 20 Images from Afghanistan Page 10 COMISAF Intent n full partnership with the grow- Security Forces against the ing institutions of the Islamic insurgents’ strategy and oth- IRepublic of Afghanistan, and ers who forcibly oppose the within the means allocated by progress of this campaign. NATO and the many nations sup- We will assist in demonstrat- porting the mission, ISAF demon- ing the growing capacity of strates NATO’s commitment to the ANSF to meet the GIRoA’s security, reconstruction and the security challenges, and will extension of governance in Af- operate in such a way as to ghanistan. Further, ISAF demon- demonstrate respect for the strates both the will and capacity to Afghan people and their cul- apply irresistible force by, through, ture in order to effect their di- and in support of Afghan National rect support of our endeavor. ISAF Mission Conduct military operations in the assigned area of operations to assist the Government of Afghanistan in the establishment and maintenance of a safe and secure envi ronment with full engage- ment of Afghan National Security Forces, in order to extend gov- ernment authority and influence, thereby facilitating Afghanistan’s Gen. David D. McKiernan reconstruction and contributing to regional stability. Commander, ISAF ISAF operations are divided among five regional commands: Editorial Staff Regional Command Capital (approx strength 5,900) Royal Navy Captain Mark Windsor •HQ ISAF in Kabul (Composite) Chief, Public Affairs •HQ RC-C in Kabul (FRA) Regional Command South (approx strength 23,800) US Navy Lieutenant •HQ RC-S in Kandahar (CAN) Jessica L. Gandy Regional Command West (approx strength 2,500) Chief, Multipurpose Public Affairs/ Editor •HQ RC-W in Herat (ITA) Regional Command North (approx strength 4,300) Turkish Army First Lieutenant •HQ RC-N in Mazar-e-Sharif (DEU) Yuksel Kilic Regional Command East (approx strength 16,400) Chief Internal Command Affairs •HQ RC-E in Bagram (USA) US Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Michael E. Wagoner Layout and Design Front Page: Back Page: Austrailian soldier stand Afghan girl steps out of her Turkish Army Sergeant 1st Class guard in Tarin Kowt. home in Kandahar. Ramazan Cagliyan Photo by: PO1 John Collins Photo by: PO1 John Collins Assistant Layout and Design 2 ISAF MIRROR SEPTEMBER 2008 official magazine of isaf ISAF MIRROR CONTENTS Pages 4-5 Regional Command Capital Pages 6-7 Regional Command East Pages 8-9 Regional Command North Pages 10-11 Images from Afghanistan Pages 12-15 Winning in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Page 16-17 Interview with Command Sergeant Major Savusa Page 18 NRDC - Turkey Begins Duty in ISAF HQ Page 19 Reagan Supports Coalition Forces in Afghanistan Pages 20-21 Regional Command South Page 22 Regional Command West Pages 23 Success Stories Around Afghanistan ISAF Mirror is a Headquarters International Security Assistance Force Public Affairs product intended for the information and entertainment of ISAF and associated person- nel. Though articles have been edited, opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policies of NATO, Joint Forces Command Headquarters Brunssum or ISAF. The Mirror is published every two months (March, May, July, September and November) and distributed among the regional commands. View it on-line at www.nato.int/isaf. Submissions to ISAF Mirror should be related to ISAF operations; however, other articles may be run based on their appeal to an international military audience. Articles should be sent in Microsoft Word format and photos should be at least 4.5 cm at 300 dpi resolution. Include identifying information of authors. E-mail submissions to jessica.gandy@ hq.isaf.nato.int. The deadline for submissions is the 25th day of the month prior to publication. To contact the editor, call DSN 318 686 2466 or e-mail [email protected]. www.nato.int/isaf ISAF MIRROR SEPTEMBER 2008 3 Regional command capital + RC - CAPITAL CHANGE OF COMMAND Story courtesy of Camp Warehouse abul - On August 5th, Re- and ISAF.” He also stressed the close gional Command Capital`s cooperation between RC-C and ANSF K(RC-C) change of com- improving security in Kabul area. mand ceremony took place at Camp RC-C troops engaged local popula- Warehouse between Italian Brigadier tion constantly and comprehensively, General Federico Bonato, command- providing medical and veterinary ac- ing RC-C since December 2007 and tivities in remote villages; realizing French General Michel Stollsteiner. several projects like schools, clinics During his speech, General Bonato and hospitals; increasing agriculture wanted to thank all the soldiers of the and preventing famine in rural areas. RC-C and summarized the activities At the end of ceremony, General of the last eight months. David McKiernan thanked the former “I am really proud to have been your Commander of RC-C underlining how commander,” he said to all the troops, much he appreciated his commitment “we carried out a lot of activities for to achieving a difficult mission and the population, we increased the con- also wished success to the new Com- fidence among the locals, the GiROA mander. 4 ISAF MIRROR SEPTEMBER 2008 RC - CAPITAL CHANGE OF COMMAND 20 Afghan Students Visit Story courtesy of Camp Warehouse Turkey for First Time urkish Battle Group Civil- ter that, they went to Istanbul, which is of them: seeing another country and Military Co-Operation Team one of the most beautiful cities in the another culture, learning the world Tarranged a ten day Turkey visit World. In Istanbul, they visited many outside Afghanistan. They were very for 20 Afghan students in early August. historical places like Dolmabahce pleased with the Turkish Nation’s hos- It was arranged by the coordination Palace, Topkapi Palace and the Blue tility. between Turkish Battle Group CIMIC Mosque. They also had the chance to TU BG CIMIC Team commander Team and Turkish Armed Forces Gen- make a tour to the Istanbul Bosporus. Capt. Murat METE (TUR ARMY) eral Staff Command. During the visit In Istanbul, they visited Kuleli Mili- said that a dream became reality for an Afghan interpreter and Afghan in- tary High School from which many the 20 Afghan students and TU BG structor escorted the students. The stu- at of the Turkish officers studied be- CIMIC Teams would participate in dents were chosen among the attend- fore the War Academy. After Istanbul this kind of tour in the future. ees at the Turkish Language course, they went on their tour in Cankkale, TU BG is helping Afghan people which is one of the courses that TU an important place in Turkish Military not only in security but also in other BG is conducting in Kabul area. These history for the battle of 1915. In Cana- fields like craft courses, Turkish lan- were the most successful students in kkale, they visited the theatre of World guage course, computer science, sew- the course. War I and historical Truva. ing, embroidery and carpentry. After arriving in Turkey, they began Despite visiting just a small part of Nearly 500 Afghans are participat- their visit from the capital Ankara. Turkey they were very pleased. They ing in these courses. These courses They visited the mausoleum of Mus- also made a good practice of their new are very useful for improving the eco- tafa Kemal ATATURK, founder of language (Turkish) during the visit. nomic situation of the Afgan the modern Turkish Republic Turkey, The visit was just ten days but Af- population. other historical places and also the ghan students will never forget it. This Turkish Great National Assembly. Af- kind of visit was a dream for many www.nato.int/isaf ISAF MIRROR SEPTEMBER 2008 5 Regional command east + Afghan Commandos, Coalition Forces Disrupt Taliban Stronghold in Zeriko Valley Story courtesy of Gardez PRT AGRAM AIR FIELD, Af- claimed. After routing the enemy, the ness without the Combined Joint Task ghanistan — A team of Afghan Commandos freed 16 local men held Force-101’s Task Force Eagle air as- BNational Army Commandos, captive in the leader’s compound and sets landing us right on top of the Tali- advised by US Special Operations destroyed several Taliban weapons ban. The element of surprise took the Forces, attacked a Taliban sanctuary caches. wind out of their sails before the fight in western Afghanistan’s Zeriko Val- “We wanted to gauge the Taliban’s even started.” ley recently. fighting abilities, their weapons sys- The Marine SOF team leader said he The combined forces sought to lib- tems and their chain-of-command ef- believes the operation sends an impor- erate locals in the stronghold estab- fectiveness within the Zeriko Valley,” tant message to both the Taliban and lished by a Taliban commander, who said a US SOF team sergeant. “Their the people of Afghanistan. is coordinating both the acquisition failure to defend themselves only “The Taliban can go anywhere in and movement of weapons and sup- proved how inferior they really are as this country and attempt to establish a plies, and the movement and employ- fighters.” sanctuary and we’ll be one step behind ment of Taliban fighters within Farah With increased Commando opera- to drive them out,” the team leader province. tions and diminishing Taliban pres- said. “There will be no safe haven for The Commandos and their SOF ence, the people living in the Zeriko Taliban fighters in this country. You advisors landed in the village of Par- Valley can lead safer lives. can be sure of that.” makan July 16. “We have people from the Zeriko “Our intent was to put them into a coming to talk to the Commando lead- dilemma where they could either come ership to thank the government for go- out and fight like men or run away and ing into the valley,” said a Marine SOF yield a position of significance while team sergeant.