Free Republic

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2012 – Combined international and Afghan forces captured two Taliban leaders in Afghanistan today, military officials reported. A combined force in the northern province of Baghlan captured a Taliban leader in the Baghlan-e Jadid district, where he was known to operate a bomb-making cell and direct attacks against Afghan forces. In the south, a combined security force captured a Taliban leader and another insurgent in Helmand province’s Nahr-e Saraj district. The leader coordinated direct-fire attacks in the upper Gereshk Valley and planted roadside bombs. Afghan and coalition forces detained another suspected insurgent while searching for another Taliban...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force yesterday detained a Taliban leader and an associate during an operation in the Marjah district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province, military officials reported. The leader was responsible for threatening to kill Afghan civilians and conducting attacks against Afghan security forces. In other Afghanistan news yesterday: -- Combined forces killed six insurgents, detained six others and seized a weapons cache during separate operations across Regional Command East. The cache contained three inert rocket-propelled grenades, two 155 mm casings, improvised explosive device parts and spent small-arms casings. -- A remotely piloted...

About all that's in so far. Undoubtedly, more details will follow soon.

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release KABUL, Afghanistan, June 16, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed two armed insurgents and detained several suspects during a nighttime security operation in the Mota Khan district of Afghanistan’s Paktika province yesterday, military officials reported. The Afghan-led security force encountered the armed insurgents while searching for a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator. The facilitator is a roadside and car bomb expert who conducts, coordinates and directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces within the district. After arriving at the suspected location, the force noticed several armed individuals...

The flood of conflicting “official” stories detailing the death of Osama bin Laden has become almost farcical. But perhaps we’re not being told what DID happen in Abbottabad because no one at the White House wishes to admit what was SUPPOSED to happen. That is, divulge the real objective.

The Navy SEALs knew their mission was to kill the al Qaeda leader, not take him aliveIn the weeks before President Obama ordered Navy SEALs into Pakistan in pursuit of Osama bin Laden, administration officials weighed using American warplanes to obliterate the terror mastermind's fortified compound from the sky or sending commandos on a high-risk mission to assault the structure from the ground. But there's one option the administration appears to have never seriously considered: taking bin Laden alive. In an important new detail about Sunday's raid, the White House disclosed on Tuesday that bin Laden was unarmed when the...

Barack Obama kept military commanders hanging by declaring he would 'sleep on it' before taking 16 hours to give the go-ahead to raid Bin Laden's compound. Hit squads of specialist Navy Seals - who were not even told who they were preparing to capture - had practised the mission at two reconstructions of the terror chiefs sprawling compound. The mission looked set to be given the all clear last Thursday when analysts confirmed beyond doubt that Bin Laden was in busy town of Abbottabad in northern Pakistan.

According to another one of those White House briefings of reporters designed to suck up all available credit for good news, President Obama's homeland security advisor reveals that it was a really tense time in the air-conditioned White House as unidentified U.S. Navy SEALs closed in on the world's most wanted man after midnight a half a world away. "Minutes passed like days," says John Brennan, who bravely stood with press secretary Jay Carney before reporters and TV cameras today chronicling his boss' weekend heroics. The heavily-armed commandos flying in a quartet of darkened Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters more than...

I'm dying to know, which Freeper had the best crystal ball?

KABUL, Afghanistan (Jan. 25, 2011) — Coalition forces detained a Haqqani Network facilitator at an Afghan Border Patrol checkpoint in Paktika province yesterday. The now detained Haqqani Network facilitator operated in Orgun area, Wardak province. He was responsible for the movement of supplies, improvised explosive devices and vehicle-borne IEDs. He was in direct contact with other Haqqani Network leaders in the area. Security forces set up at the Afghan Border Patrol checkpoint in the district where the Haqqani Network facilitator traveled frequently according to recent reporting. The Haqqani Network insurgent was detained based on initial questioning at the scene.

Question for FReepers: Is it possible AND how to do it -- Logically connect and have Windows recognize a Camcorder (that has an HDMI port) connected to a PC that has an HDMI port, running Windows 7 -- and then capture video form the Camcorder onto the PC? Obviously the physical connection is simple. Can I use the HDMI cable and ports to perform video capture, or only video 'play'? I am logged in, my sister and the moose are in the shower eating cheese, and this is quite hugh and series because this new PC (much to my surprise)...

Speaking of changing the rules... Gold and silver are now down hard over the past two days, and the reason may have something to do with the fact that the CFTC utterly caved to JPM in their long-awaited decision on position limits in a 4-1 vote. While position limits will eventually be set, maybe, someday, the course of action taken by the CFTC grandfathers in JPM's (and HSBC, et al.) current outlandish positions. Here's the background (emphasis mine): On July 21, 2010, the Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Among other things, the Dodd-Frank Act...

WASHINGTON - The Energy Department said Tuesday it was awarding $575 million for carbon capture research-and-development projects in 15 states. The experimental technique involves storing carbon dioxide emissions from coal plants and other sources underground, in an attempt to reduce pollution blamed for contributing to global warming. "This is a major step forward in the fight to reduce carbon emissions from industrial plants," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "These new technologies will not only help fight climate change, they will create jobs now and help position the United States to lead the world in clean coal technologies, which will only...

REAT FALLS, Mont. – A pig wrestling competition at a county fair in northern Montana has been canceled after the porkers eluded fair officials trying to round them up for the event. Fair office manager Shirley Embleton says the wild pigs spend the year on a 10-mile free-range property along the Marias River and about 30 are captured the Friday of the scheduled event. But this year, fair officials were only able to locate one boar, despite flying the river. ..

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released today found that carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) schemes favored by Democrats under their proposed cap and trade national energy tax boondoggle would increase electricity costs, reduce electricity output and increase water consumption. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking Republican of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), released the GAO today covering the status, cost, and reliability of current CCS technology for coal-fired power plants. The release states, “Based on GAO's survey of stakeholders, including utilities and state regulators, current CCS technology would increase electricity costs...

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2010, June 29, 2010 – An Afghan and international force detained a number of suspected insurgents including a Taliban facilitator in Afghanistan’s Helmand province last night, military officials reported. The facilitator, believed to be a key player in the facilitation network in the province’s Now Zad district, allegedly is responsible for procuring and distributing bomb-making components. After clearing several buildings in the village of Do Sang, in the Now Zad district, the combined security force detained the facilitator and several suspected associates. A separate Afghan and international force detained a suspected insurgent in Kandahar province while pursuing...

WASHINGTON, May 28, 2010 – Iraqi security forces arrested four terrorism suspects today during three combined operations conducted with U.S. advisors. In northwestern Baghdad, Iraqi forces arrested a suspected criminal associate during an operation seeking a Promised Day Brigade terrorist group leader who allegedly is involved in sniper, indirect-fire and roadside-bomb attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces. Meanwhile, in western Baghdad, Iraqi forces arrested three suspected criminal associates while seeking an al-Qaida in Iraq leader who allegedly is involved in high-profile vehicle-bomb attacks and has ties to senior leadership of the terror organization. A combined operation in western Mosul targeting...

May 22, 2010 Republicans Capture House Seat in Obama's Hometown Honolulu -- Republicans scored a midterm election victory Saturday when Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou won a Democratic-held House seat in Hawaii in the district where President Obama grew up -- the latest triumph for the GOP as it looks to take back control of Congress. Djou's victory was a blow to Obama and other Democrats who could not rally around a candidate and find away to win a congressional race that should have been a cakewalk. The seat had been held by a Democrat for nearly 20 years and...

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2010 – Iraqi security forces arrested eight suspected terrorists in recent combined operations in Iraq with U.S. advisors, military officials reported. South of Tikrit today, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searching for a suspected senior al-Qaida in Iraq leader who’s allegedly involved in planning and executing high-profile attacks arrested three suspected criminal associates of the wanted man. In Mosul yesterday, Iraqi forces working with U.S. advisors searching for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader allegedly involved in distributing funds to other members of the terror organization in the city arrested one his suspected associates. Also yesterday, Iraqi...

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2010 – Afghan and international forces detained several insurgents and seized illegal drugs and weapons in recent operations in Afghanistan, military officials reported. An Afghan-international security force pursuing a Taliban commander in Kandahar province detained two militants in the Zharay district last night. The combined force went to a series of compounds after intelligence information indicated insurgent activity, and two men ran away as the force approached. The two men were captured after a lengthy chase. They told the patrol they were Pakistani fighters, and that they had rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles hidden at another location....

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2010 – Afghan and international forces captured two Taliban commanders and seized weapons and drugs in recent operations, military officials reported. An Afghan-international security force captured a senior Taliban commander and another insurgent in Baghlan province’s Baghlan-e Jadid district last night. The Taliban commander is responsible for weapons smuggling, distribution, passing intelligence reports and direct attacks on coalition forces, officials said. Several weapons were found in the compound where he was captured. In Kandahar province’s Kandahar district last night, a combined patrol captured a Taliban commander responsible for procuring and planting roadside bombs and leading ambushes of...

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2010 – Iraqi forces arrested 11 terrorism suspects in recent operations conducted with U.S. advisors, military officials reported. South of Baghdad yesterday, Iraqi forces arrested four suspected al-Qaida in Iraq criminal associates during a combined operation in search of a man who allegedly is involved in bomb attacks against Iraqi civilians and Iraqi and coalition forces. In Mosul on May 17, Iraqi forces working with U.S. advisors arrested a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader and three suspected criminal associates. The suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader is believed to have played a key role in acquiring vehicles and...

BAGHDAD, May 13, 2010 – Iraqi security forces arrested four suspected al-Qaida in Iraq criminal associates during separate combined security operations in central and southern Iraq yesterday, military officials reported. Iraqi forces working with U.S., advisors arrested three suspected criminal associates south of Baghdad while searching for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member who allegedly is involved in bombing attacks against civilians and Iraqi and coalition forces. During another operation in Baghdad, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader who allegedly is involved in high-profile vehicle-bomb attacks and has ties to senior the terror...

Through key intelligence sources in Afghanistan and Pakistan, I have just learned that reclusive Taliban leader and top Osama bin Laden ally, Mullah Omar has been taken into custody....

KABUL, March 31, 2010 – Afghan and international security forces detained several suspected militants in recent operations, military officials reported. An Afghan-international security force on the outskirts of Marja in the Nawah-ye Barakzai district of Helmand province detained a few suspected militants for further questioning today after a search based on intelligence information. In Khost province last night, a combined Afghan-international force in the Sabari district detained a suspected militant for further questioning and found automatic rifles, ammunition and chest racks. Also last night, a combined force in the Zurmat district of Paktia province captured a Haqqani terrorist network commander...

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2010 – Iraqi forces arrested suspected al-Qaida in Iraq and Kataib Hezbollah terrorists today during three operations with U.S. advisors. The operations were conducted in accordance with the U.S.-Iraq security agreement and in coordination with the Iraqi government, U.S. Forces Iraq officials said. Iraqi forces with U.S. advisors today arrested a man believed to be an associate of a suspected Kataib Hezbollah brigade leader they were seeking on a warrant in northern Baghdad. The brigade leader is believed to be responsible for carrying out attacks against security forces. In western Baghdad, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched...

KABUL, March 12, 2010 – Afghan and international forces killed one insurgent, detained 16 suspected militants and seized enemy weapon stockpiles in recent operations in Afghanistan. An Afghan-international security force captured a Taliban facilitator today who is believed to be responsible for roadside-bomb attacks in Kandahar province’s Zharmi district, along with two other suspects. In Paktika province’s Zurmat district last night, a combined force captured a Taliban subcommander responsible for participating in attacks against coalition forces, executing Afghan citizens and conducting battle-damage assessments after Taliban attacks. The assault force also captured two other insurgents and recovered multiple automatic rifles, grenades,...

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2010 – Afghan and international forces captured numerous suspected insurgents in four Afghanistan provinces during combined operations over the last two days, military officials reported. Bagram-based Special Forces and international forces captured two suspects connected to insurgents in Helmand’s Nawzad district. In a separate operation in the Garmsir district, a combined force captured several insurgents. Almost a dozen suspected insurgents believed to be responsible for roadside bombing attacks were arrested in Khost province, and their rifles and ammunition were seized. Afghan soldiers operating in Kandahar’s Jharai district captured several suspected insurgents. In operations today, Afghan and international...

KABUL, March 9, 2010 – Coalition forces in Afghanistan captured two militant commanders along with several other insurgents in separate raids yesterday. In Khost province, a combined Afghan-international force arrested a commander linked to the Haqqani terrorist network, as well as several suspected associates and some automatic rifles. In Helmand province, a second combined force captured a Taliban commander and an unspecified number of additional suspects. Each commander is believed to lead large units of enemy fighters responsible for attacks against coalition forces and Afghan civilians, officials said. In other operations in Afghanistan, several suspected insurgents were arrested in Helmand...

BAGHDAD, Feb. 26, 2010 – Iraqi security forces arrested a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member believed to be responsible for numerous assassinations during a joint security operation conducted southwest of the Iraqi capital yesterday. Intelligence reports indicate terrorists increasingly are staging politically motivated assassinations and violent attacks in an attempt to undermine the Iraqi government and create a sense of chaos as national elections near, officials said. Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched a home for the suspected assassin, who belongs to the terrorist cell believed to have conducted nearly 50 assassinations. Evidence and information collected during the operation led...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2010 – The recent capture of the Afghan Taliban’s No. 2 leader and top operational commander represents a “significant win,” a White House official said. U.S. officials have said little in public on the capture in Pakistan of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar -- the Taliban’s second-in-command to Mohammad Omar -- but White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs yesterday called it “a significant win.” “Obviously, this was the number-two Afghan Taliban -- the operational chief -- and it's a big success for our mutual efforts in the region,” Gibbs told White House reporters. The Pakistani government has confirmed that...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2010 – Iraqi security forces arrested a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq weapons dealer and two other suspected terrorists during a series of combined operations in Baghdad today. Intelligence reports led Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors to a home in western Baghdad in search of a terrorist wanted for building and distributing silencers for pistols used to conduct robberies and assassinations. Based on incriminating evidence and information gathered during the operation, forces arrested the suspected weapons dealer. Al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists use weapons equipped with silencers while robbing financial institutions, businesses and private citizens to acquire funds for...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2010 – Iraqi forces working with U.S. advisors detained 16 terrorism suspects in recent days, military officials reported. Northeast of Baghdad yesterday, an Iraqi emergency response unit arrested a man during a combined operation targeting a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member believed to be involved in planning vehicle-borne bomb attacks in the Mosul and Beiji areas. After conducting preliminary questioning and assessing the evidence at the scene, police arrested a suspected criminal associate of the wanted man. Elsewhere, Iraqi forces, in a combined operation with U.S. soldiers, arrested 15 people Jan. 13 in connection with murders and...

MEXICO CITY – Mexican police have captured alleged drug lord Carlos Beltran Leyva, just two week after his even more powerful brother was killed in a shootout with troops — back-to-back victories in President Felipe Calderon's drug war. The Public Safety office said in a statement Saturday night that Carlos Beltran Leyva was arrested in Culiacan, the capital of the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa, where he and several of his brothers were born and allegedly started their gang. Two weeks ago, his brother Arturo, reputed chief of the Beltran Leyva Cartel, was killed in a shootout with Mexican marines...

THE US will launch a new effort to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, who is believed to be hiding along the mountainous Afghan-Pakistani border, US national security adviser James Jones says. Asked in an interview if the administration planned a fresh attempt to go after al-Qaeda's leader, Mr Jones said: "I think so."

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2009 – Iraqi security forces arrested five suspected members of the al-Qaida in Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq terrorist groups today during three combined security operations conducted with U.S. advisors in the Iraqi cities of Ramadi, Tikrit and Kirkuk, military officials reported. Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched two buildings in Ramadi for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader believed to be responsible for multiple vehicle-borne bomb attacks in the region. After questioning those in the buildings and examining evidence found at the scene, Iraqi forces arrested two suspected al-Qaida in Iraq associates. In Tikrit,...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2009 – Combined Afghan and international forces killed or detained numerous enemy fighters in Afghanistan in recent days, military officials reported. A combined force in Nangarhar province today detained several suspected militants, including a sought-after Taliban facilitator believed to be responsible for numerous weapons shipments to other militant elements in the area. No shots were fired, and no civilians were harmed during the operation. In eastern Paktika province yesterday, a combined force killed a group of enemy militants and detained two suspected militants while pursuing a Haqqani terrorist network commander with ties to the local Haqqani leadership....

BAGHDAD, Nov. 6, 2009 – Iraqi security forces arrested five suspected terrorists today in two security operations. In northeastern Baghdad, the Iraqi soldiers, with U.S. advisors, searched two buildings looking for a Promise Day Brigade terrorist group leader who allegedly coordinates attacks against security forces in Iraq. The Iraqi soldiers questioned and then arrested three people suspected of being Promise Day Brigade associates without incident. Near Sharqat, about 50 miles northwest of Kirkuk, Iraqi police and U.S. advisors searched two buildings for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member who has ties to senior leaders of the terrorist group. Based on...

KABUL, Oct. 20, 2009 – Afghan and international security forces killed militants, detained several suspects and seized weapons today in Afghanistan, military officials reported. A combined force killed enemy militants and detained suspected militants after searching two compounds known to be used by a Taliban commander and his element in Wardak province’s Jaghatu district. The suspects are believed to be responsible for guiding and directing other militant elements to conduct attacks in the area. During the search, enemy militants displayed hostile intent outside of the compounds. The force used precision aerial fire to kill several armed militants posing a threat...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2009 – Afghan and international forces killed and detained multiple suspected militants in operations to interdict Taliban activity in Afghanistan’s Zabul and Wardak provinces in recent days, military officials reported. A combined force was fired upon during a search today in the Bahar district of Zabul province in pursuit of a Taliban commander and his element believed to be responsible for attacks in the region. They returned fire, killing the militants, one of whom was found to be wearing a suicide vest. The combined force found and destroyed assault rifles, ammunition belts and communications gear found at...

BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces captured six suspects involved in terrorist acts conducted in and around Kirkuk, Mosul and Baghdad in four different security operations today. Near Tuz Khurmatu, located approximately 69 km southwest of Kirkuk, the 3rd Emergency Services Unit, with U.S. forces advisors, arrested a suspect involved in an assassination and kidnapping ring that operates in and around the city of Kirkuk. In addition, the suspect played an active role in helping build the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device that destroyed a mosque and killed several Iraqi citizens in Taza on June 20. The security team searched several buildings...

NLPC has uncovered a plan by the White House New Media operation to hire a technology vendor to conduct a massive, secret effort to harvest personal information on millions of Americans from social networking websites. The information to be captured includes comments, tag lines, emails, audio, and video. The targeted sites include Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr and others – any space where the White House “maintains a presence.” In the course of investigating procurement by the White House New Media office, NLPC discovered a 51-page solicitation of bids that was filed on Friday, August 21, 2009. Filed as Solicitation...

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AFP) – A Nigerian Islamist sect leader was shot dead following his capture Thursday, after troops put down a five-day uprising that left hundreds dead. Mohammed Yusuf, 39, leader of a Nigerian self-styled Taliban sect was captured earlier in the day from a house in the northeastern city of Maiduguri following days of deadly clashes between his followers and security forces. "Mohammed Yusuf was killed by security forces in a shootout while trying to escape," Moses Anegbode, police Assistant Inspector-General for the northeastern Nigeria told BRTV state television. "I can confirm that has been killed and the body...

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2009 – Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected militants yesterday during operations to disrupt Haqqani terrorist network activity in Afghanistan, military officials reported. Afghan and coalition forces searched two compounds last night in Khowst province in an effort to disrupt the flow of weapons, suicide bombers and foreign fighters into the region. The force detained six suspected militants, including two suspected Haqqani commanders. One of the commanders is believed to be involved with rocket attacks against the Kuchi tribe and the smuggling of weapons, suicide bombers and foreign fighters into Afghanistan. The force also confiscated two...

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2009 – Coalition and Iraqi forces detained four suspected insurgents and found weapons in recent operations in central Iraq, U.S. military officials reported. Iraqi and coalition forces yesterday detained a suspect in Baghdad’s Mansour district after discovering an assortment of weapons in his home. The raid was initiated from a tip given to Iraqi forces by a local resident. The search turned up three artillery rounds, two rockets and a bag filled with metal ball bearings, all which may be used to build homemade bombs, military officials said. Also in Baghdad, Iraqi forces arrested a man believed...

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2009 – Coalition and Iraqi forces detained one suspect and seized a weapons cache during operations in Iraq this week. Iraqi and coalition forces detained a suspected criminal on a warrant in northwestern Baghdad's Kadhamiyah district on May 20. The suspect was wanted for allegedly promoting sectarian violence in the Hurriyah neighborhood, military officials said. Troops took the suspect to a secure location for further questioning. During a May 19 operation, combined forces discovered a large cache in the Aqur Quf area west of the Iraq capital. The stockpile contained rockets, mortars and other military equipment. An...

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2009 – U.S. Marines and Iraqi police uncovered several weapons caches near Karmah, Iraq, May 12 and 13. Five cache sites yielded more than 280 mortar rounds, 11 artillery rounds, 15 machine guns, two rifles and a grenade launcher. In other Iraq news, coalition and Iraqi security forces arrested three suspects in operations in northwest Baghdad May 11 and 12. Two were arrested in Kadamiyah on May 11 and charged with conducting bombing attacks on coalition forces and refugees in Kadamiyah. Another wanted suspect was arrested in the Mansour district May 12. (Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq...

TIKRIT — Iraq’s Tikrit Emergency Response Battalion (ERB) recently planned, led and facilitated an operation leading to the arrest of three suspected key members of a Bayji-based insurgent cell. According to Iraqi intelligence, the cell (comprised of members of the former Iraqi Army) led kidnapping raids and coordinated attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces. With Tikrit Major Crimes Court-issued warrants, ERB members entered the residences and detained each of the cell members. “The capture of these individuals should disrupt insurgent operations in Salah al Din, and validates the ability of the Tikrit ERB to gather intelligence and conduct unilateral operations,”...

Source: U.S. journalists in Pyongyang Seoul tells Washington the detainees could be facing charges of espionage March 24, 2009 A sign warning against illegal border crossing was set up near the Tumen River where two female American reporters were reportedly arrested by North Korean soldiers on March 17. [YONHAP] South Korea has collected intelligence on how two American journalists were recently captured in North Korea and has briefed United States intelligence officials on the details, the JoongAng Ilbo has learned. A South Korean source said that after the capture, U.S. intelligence officials asked South Korea for cooperation in gathering facts...