The Magazine of USCENTCOM`s Coalition Partner Nations Coalition 60 / April 2009 • Afghanistan Commander Welcomes Additional Troops Page 4 • U.S. Forces Continue to Transfer Responsibilities to Iraqis Page 5 • Incoming Troops Likely to See Initial Rise of Violence in Afghanistan Page 6 Chairman : • Australia Announces Increase in ADF France Brig. Gen. Gilles Lemoine Forces in Afghanistan Committee : Canada Sgt Stepharnoff Linda Page 7 France Capt. Xavier Laverdant • United States, Central, South Asia Germany Cmdr. Braun, Thomas Leaders Discuss Strategy Page 8-9 Italy Cmdr. Livraghi Fabio Korea LTC. Dong S. Park • Royal Navy Continues Training Iraqi Navy New Zealand Wing Cmdr. Leslie Matthews Page 10 Romania LTC. Roman Florin Pakistan Col. Ishliaq Ahmad • Army Nurse Honoured for Bravery in Iraq Page 11 Chief of Coalition Public Affairs Team : Pakistan LTC. Muhammad Arif • Coalition Members Gather for COALITION BULLETIN STAFF : ANZAC Service Senior Editor Page 12 Albania Cpt. Rexhaj Kastriot •Iraqi Army Commandos Secure Owesat Editorial Staff : Page 13 Maj. Cristian Popovici Romania • Fact Sheet on Iraq Singapore Cpt. Ethan Tan Page 14 Qatar Cpt.. Hamad Al-Kuwari USA LTJG Joe Vermette • Fact Sheet on Afghanistan Page 15 Editor’s Note By the generous permission of our NATO partners, the Coalition is pleased to bring you stories covering the activities of the International Security Assistance Force. As ISAF and the Coalition are separate entities, ISAF stories will be denoted by the NATO logo at the top of each page when they appear. CHIEFS OF DEFENSE Cover Photo: CONFERENCE -CHIEFS OF DEFENSE CONFERENCE Design: Cpt. Dritor Papa The views expressed in the Coalition Bulletin cannot be attributed to any one nation. They are items considered newsworthy by the volunteers from various nations that make up the Public Awareness Working Group (PAWG). Contributions from all Coalition countries are encouraged. All contributors to the Coalition Bulletin are responsible for adhering to PAWG policy pertaining to the accuracy and copyright laws in the content they provide. For questions concerning PAWG policy, contact the Coalition Bulletin editor at +1 (813) 827-1728, or write to us at [email protected] For an electronic copy of the Coalition Bulletin, visit: www.centcom.mil/newsletter Coalition 60 / April 2009 Ceremony marks the accession of Albania and Croatia to NATO On 7 April a ceremony was held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels to mark the accession of Albania and Croatia to the Alliance. The two countries’ flags were raised in the presence of Prime Minister Sali Berisha of Albania and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader of Croatia. nato.int NATO Secretary General in Iraq On 8-9 April, NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, accompanied by NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General James Mattis, visited Iraq he 60th issue of Coalition Bulletin comes at a moment when the President Barack Obama has announced his nato.int Tstrategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The transfer of responsibilities to Iraqis is an on-going process (see page 5), ANSF, ISAF targeted operation in Mohammed the reinforcement in Afghanistan has begun with additional Agha, Logar province troops to enhance security environment and allow the other KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces lines of operation in governance and socioeconomic progress (ANSF) and International Security Assistance Force to take place (page 4). These additional troops will lead to an (ISAF) troops conducted a targeted operation in Deh-e- increase of the violence as insurgents will get less safe heaven Manakah village, Mohammed Agha district, Logar province and less support from the population (page 6). There is still a this morning aimed at detaining insurgent commanders long way to go but the positive sings are clear – thanks to the hiding in the village. daily efforts made by the Coalition women and men in uniform to fulfill our common obligation. nato.int This bulletin, like always, also brings with it an overview of NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan the activities from the AOR, news from Coalition members NATO’s Heads of State and Government at the Alliance’s and a conference with senior leaders from the Central and 60th Anniversary Summit meeting in Strasbourg-Kehl, South Asia region hosted by US Central Command to cultivate announced today the establishment of a NATO Training military cooperation and enhance regional security and stability. Mission for Afghanistan (NTM-A). This mission will further support the development of capable and self- There are some changes within the Coalition Public Affair sustaining Afghan National Security Forces. It will Team and I would like to acknowledge the commitment of comprise senior-level mentoring of the Afghan National LTC Muhamad Arif, who after having worked for two years Army (ANA) and an expanded role in developing as Chief of Coalition Public Affairs Team, moves back to professional Afghan National Police (ANP). Pakistan. On behalf of the Coalition, I extend my appreciation nato.int to Maj. Christian Popovici (Romania – Editorial Staff) and Cpt. Kastriot Rexhaj (Albania – Senior Editor) for their services Royal Marine Saves Iraqi Oil Worker’s Life to the Coalition and especially the bulletin and wish them all Aboard Khor Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) April 13, the best in their new positions. an accident occurred when a crane dislodged a pile of very large pipes. As the pipes went over the side of the I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Cpt. Dritor platform, one struck and injured the leg of an Iraqi oil Papa, the new member of this team, and wish him the very worker, knocking him overboard. best for his tenure of assignment with the Coalition. Royal Marine Cpl. Gregory Llewellyn, a marine advisor with the Coalition Naval Advisory and Training Team, was Brigadier General Gilles Lemoine there training Iraqi Marines when the incident occurred. Chairman of the Public Affair Working Group Without hesitation, Llewellyn jumped nearly 40 feet into Coalition Coordination Center (CCC) the water to assist the injured man, despite parts of the KAAOT structure being unstable and full of underwater hazards. mnf-iraq.com CoalitionCoalition 60 60 April / April 2009 2009 Page 3 Afghanistan Commander Welcomes Additional Troops Story by Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden Courtesy of centcom.mil he commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan said Wednesday Tthat while he’s pleased with President Barack Obama’s authorization to send 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan, tough times are ahead. Army General David D. McKiernan, commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces - Afghanistan, said at a Pentagon news conference that the reinforcement fulfills about two-thirds of his request for additional forces and will provide enough manpower to sustain security through the summer. “Those forces, of course, are aimed at being operational by the highest part of the insurgent fighting season this summer, and to be in place Army General David D. McKiernan, commander of NATO’s International and operational before the projected elections Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, delivers an in August of 2009,” McKiernan said. The update briefing at a Pentagon news conference. additional forces also are needed “to give us a security foundation that will allow the other lines of operations The incoming troops, as well as those currently in in governance and socioeconomic progress to take place Afghanistan, can expect a “dual mission,” McKiernan said, and change what I’ve called a stalemate in the south,” the noting he asked for a Marine expeditionary brigade and an general said. Army Stryker brigade because of their versatility. He wanted The additional forces will focus their efforts in the south units with counterinsurgency capabilities that also could and along Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan to combat provide security for the population and partner with Afghan insurgents. However, the lack of a strong central government forces, he explained, adding that Afghan border and national for three decades, combined with high illiteracy and poverty police forces need trainers and organizers, which the rates and a resilient enemy, doesn’t offer a quick solution additional troops also will provide. for Afghanistan, McKiernan said. “[The additional units] are battle-space owners conducting “Even with the additional forces, I have to tell you that counterinsurgency operations, but they’re also developing 2009 is going to be a tough year,” he said. “While this will capacity and capability in the Afghan policing forces,” he give us a security foundation, we certainly need additional said. “Training and mentoring … will be part of the units’ contributions — civilian capacity-building programs that will mission.” enable people in Afghanistan to feel hope and to develop When McKiernan took command in Afghanistan less than their abilities to take the lead for their governance.” a year ago, he requested 30,000 additional forces. Even after About 38,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan, including the increased U.S. presence takes hold, he still will need about 6,000 reinforcements from the 10th Mountain 10,000 to 12,000 more, whether they come from allies in Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team and a contingent of NATO or the United States, he said. He told reporters he Marines who arrived last month. Another 19,000 troops from probably will not ask for any more troops beyond that, but 42 other countries make up the balance of allied efforts he stressed that the additional forces are not a short-term there. The 17,000 additional troops are made up primarily proposition. of soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division’s 5th Stryker “This is not a temporary force uplift. … It’s going to need Brigade Combat Team based at Fort Lewis, Wash., and to be sustained for some period of time,” he said.