The Marines of 3rd Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, with their Afghan National Army counterparts, set out on a patrol to “draw lines in the sand,” outside Patrol Base Fulod in Sangin District, Dec. 30.

As Afghan and coalition forces conduct operations in Helmand and Nimroz provinces, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) continues to support them by ensuring coalition aircraft always have a place to land.

The expeditionary airfield specialists of Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 “Aces” are the Marines in charge of ensuring that airfields and landing zones are properly surveyed and constructed.

When surveying a landing zone, the Marines look for obstacles such as uneven ground, space needed for aircraft to land and any buildings or containers that may become a hazard to landing aircraft.

Afghan national security forces along with members of the International Security Assistance Force began a major security operation recently in the Gor Tepa region of Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan.

The combined operation, which began Dec. 28, is focused on denying insurgents freedom of movement throughout the area.

Members of the Afghan national police, Afghan national army and local Arbaki fighters have partnered with soldiers of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment from the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team in order to bring security to the region.

A Taliban improvised explosive device facility was destroyed by a coalition force air strike during a joint force deliberate clearing operation in Kunduz province yesterday.

Afghan and coalition forces cleared numerous buildings suspected of insurgent activity, including safe havens and weapons caches in the Shinwari village.

Searching out Improvised Explosive Devices is the daily mission for members of the 264th Route Clearance Company, Battalion Route Clearance Package 38, based at Forward Operating Base Shank in eastern Afghanistan. Their mission puts them in frequent danger, but their services are essential for the movement of vehicles and supplies.

Afghan and coalition forces targeted a Taliban leader responsible for improvised explosive device attacks against coalition forces, detaining two suspected insurgents during an operation in Nimroz province yesterday.

Forces conducted the operation in search of the Taliban leader in the Dilaram area of the province. He is also involved with the facilitation of suicide bombers into Afghanistan and leads subordinate Taliban insurgents operating in the Gulistan and Bakwa districts of Farah province.

Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban improvised explosive device facilitator who operates in Kandahar City during a joint security operation in Kandahar province yesterday.

The Taliban facilitator was responsible for construction of IED's and coordinating IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He is known to have close contacts with other Taliban leaders in the area.

A day after returning to sea from a port visit in Dubai, UAE, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) launched its 1,000th sortie mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Dec. 28 in the Arabian Sea.

Lincoln pulled in to the United Arab Emirates Dec. 23-27 with a total of 999 sorties flown supporting OEF and 76 sorties in support of Operation New Dawn (OND) during the ship's 2010-2011 deployment to the Middle East.

Happy New Year to all of you. May this be the year when the US Government throws out the US v Harrison Jack, et al, case. It is ridiculous, filled with lies and misstatement and costing American taxpayers millions of dollars. It is time...throw the case out!

Robert K. Brown, SOF Editor/Publisher will be a Key Note Speaker at next Hmong Protest Rally on 2/28/11 in Sacramento.

#1 WORST FEDERAL CASE IN EASTERN DIST OF CALIFORNIA…
Top 10 EDCA Stories of 2010, #1 Court Throws Out Half of Harrison Jack Charges; Thousands Continue to Protest