14 April 2013/03 Jumada t-Tania 1434/25 Farvardin 1391/05 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711
No more hot meals for U.S. forces in Afghanistan: “As a part of the responsible drawdown of operational forces…..commanders in some areas have altered the ration cycle. The same number of meals is provided, but the type of meal may have changed. Commanders have not eliminated breakfast.”-U.S. Army Major Adam Wojack, ISAF
16 Army National Guard troops from the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands deployed to Afghanistan. They are deploying as members of the Guam Army National Guard.
324 airmen of the Delaware Air National Guard deployed to Afghanistan. Delaware Army National Guard soldiers are now training in Texas for deployment as well. At least 700 Delaware Guard members are deployed around the World, and state officials say despite talk of pulling out of Afghanistan by the federal government they expect even more of their state militia to be deployed.
In Herat Province, two Italian/NATO troops wounded. Their convoy was hit by an explosion.
In Jawzjan Province, Mujahideen captured a security check point. Four cops killed, six wounded and captured. Mujahideen also captured AK-47s and RPGs. Local government officials say the Mujahideen had help from cops that went over to their side.
Despite billions in tax money from other countries, unemployment is still rampant in Afghanistan. An Afghan government report says 500000 jobs need to be created within the next year, or the security situation will get worse.
Afghan government officials say they’ve launched a campaign to wipe out 15,000 hectares (37,050 acres) of opium poppies. But that’s only 10% of this year’s expected crop. Already 24 Afghan National Police and seven Afghan National Army personnel have been killed in this year’s drug war. Many were killed by landmines planted around the poppy fields. 90% of the World’s opium comes from Afghanistan. Who’s buying that much, are there really that many addicts? (???pharmaceutical companies looking for cheap ingredients for their opiate based pain killers???)
13 April 2013/02 Jumada t-Tania 1434/24 Farvardin 1391/04 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711
A U.S. investigation is proving what Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been claiming, that the United States is working with Mujahideen! The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) issued a report called Contracting With the Enemy. It claims that millions of U.S. tax dollars have been flowing to Mujahideen! In fact the report says that 80% of U.S. reconstruction contracts might be financing the Mujahideen! The report is available in PDF at the www.sigar.mil website. Check it all you happy taxpayers!
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Ward of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was buried. He was killed, along with five other U.S. citizens, the weekend before in Afghanistan.
In Nangarhar Province, the Jalalabad airbase was attacked (yet again), this time a civilian helicopter was damaged.
In Kunar Province, local government officials claim Pakistan fired artillery rockets into Afghanistan. Two people killed, two wounded.
The Australian Digger base at Tarin Kowt being readied for shut down as Diggers start packing up. Australia wants to have their troops home by Xmas 2013.
While the diggers are getting out, Georgia Army National Guard engineer units arrived to replace Army National Guard engineer units from Oklahoma.
Residents of Nevada welcomed back their Army National Guard transport units, who finished an 11 months tour.
12 April 2013/01 Jumada t-Tania 1434/23 Farvardin 1391/03 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711
In Kunar Province, Afghan National Army (ANA) troops and Mujahideen engaged in several battles. One battle involved at least 100 Mujahideen and lasted five hours. At least 13 ANA soldiers killed, nine captured. It sounds like Mujahideen took control of Nari District. Mujahideen claim they suffered no casualties.
After ten months, residents of Kentucky welcomed back their Army National Guard engineer units.
11 April 2013/30 Jumada l-Ula 1434/22 Farvardin 1391/02 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711
In Uruzgan Province, Chori District, the district police chief, and at least two other people, were killed when they drove over a landmine. The police boss was on his way to hand out paychecks.
In Helmand Province, Marjah District, a remote detonated bomb killed one civilian and wounded two others.
An Afghan government investigation into a U.S./NATO airstrike in Kunar Province confirms that at least 15 civilians were killed, four were children. Another 25 people were wounded. U.S./NATO/ISAF officials called all victims Mujahideen. The investigation said only seven Mujahideen were killed!