NOTE: I am publishing this blog entry retroactively because during this time I was busy performing base defense operations and didn't have enough time to write and post.
After my short nap, I reported back to the BDOC at midnight with energy drinks in hand to get me through the night. My first post was at a back corner tower that overlooks the Afghan Military Hospital complex. Little was stirring there except for the occasional dog, cat, and hired boy who took care of the grounds. My fellow battle buddy guard and I took turns outside the tower while the other stayed inside and monitored the video camera system with the British ex-patriot contracted security guard.
After several hours, we were relieved and rotated to guard the inner perimeter of the compound. We did this until dawn. Fortunately the most action that we saw that evening was to usher anyone outside of a hardened building back inside while we were still in THREATCON Delta.
As the night wore on, we learned from intel updates that the insurgents were members of the Haqqani Network from Pakistan. Apparently the Taliban were too weak to try an attack in the capital by themselves so they needed to outsource their dirty work. Since Al Qaida had been effectively beheaded and neutered, the Haqqani Network had been contacted to step up. Thanks for your stellar performance in quelling the growing Islamic fundamentalist movement of violence within your own boarders there Government of Pakistan... No wonder predator and covert strikes are necessary within your own borders since you are either incapable or unwilling to deal with your own problems.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-14/kabul-assault-tests-afghan-forces/2898964
We learned that the attack in Kabul was aimed at both the U.S. Embassy and ISAF (both in the Green Zone), across the street. Apparently insurgents are afraid of attacking the the U.S. Forces' New Kabul Compound because they're afraid of what's inside it. Since the word on the street is that this compound is a prison for "bad Soldiers", they probably believe that we would pour out in an attack column similar to beating a hornets nest and expecting to get instantly stung by an overwhelming force. Smart move on their part.
With that lack of enemy contact aimed directly at our base, this gave our garrison commander the opportunity to do a little battlefield circulation yesterday. I found out from multiple sources that he and his entourage of a senior staff officer, public affairs photographer, and personal security detachment took a brief opportunity to come out to the tower closest to the action during the height of the gun battle yesterday and get some time in on the crew served weapons mounted there. In fact, so many people were there observing in the tower, the tower guards were asked to take a break and go to another tower. After hearing all this from multiple people present, I didn't feel quite so alarmed about the severity of the attack.
By mid morning of the following day, all of the insurgent fighters had been cleared form their holdout in the hotel down the street that was under construction. All throughout the night, there was limited sporadic gunfire and several explosions. The Haqqani had booby trapped the hotel where they had planned their holdout, but the ANP (Afghan National Police), in a daring and heroic assault, competently cleared their makeshift fortress. Since the International community has been training the ANPs, I expected nothing less from them.
By 0800hrs that next morning, we were relieved from our posts and the base had been taken down to THREATCON Charlie with the current threat neutralized. This gave me the opportunity to get a little more sleep before my next shift that started in about eight hours. Looking back over the last few days, I thought about how I had made a choice to stand up and assist just in case I was needed. I realized then I had chosen wisely and was glad I had stepped up.
More to follow.
After my short nap, I reported back to the BDOC at midnight with energy drinks in hand to get me through the night. My first post was at a back corner tower that overlooks the Afghan Military Hospital complex. Little was stirring there except for the occasional dog, cat, and hired boy who took care of the grounds. My fellow battle buddy guard and I took turns outside the tower while the other stayed inside and monitored the video camera system with the British ex-patriot contracted security guard.
After several hours, we were relieved and rotated to guard the inner perimeter of the compound. We did this until dawn. Fortunately the most action that we saw that evening was to usher anyone outside of a hardened building back inside while we were still in THREATCON Delta.
As the night wore on, we learned from intel updates that the insurgents were members of the Haqqani Network from Pakistan. Apparently the Taliban were too weak to try an attack in the capital by themselves so they needed to outsource their dirty work. Since Al Qaida had been effectively beheaded and neutered, the Haqqani Network had been contacted to step up. Thanks for your stellar performance in quelling the growing Islamic fundamentalist movement of violence within your own boarders there Government of Pakistan... No wonder predator and covert strikes are necessary within your own borders since you are either incapable or unwilling to deal with your own problems.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-14/kabul-assault-tests-afghan-forces/2898964
We learned that the attack in Kabul was aimed at both the U.S. Embassy and ISAF (both in the Green Zone), across the street. Apparently insurgents are afraid of attacking the the U.S. Forces' New Kabul Compound because they're afraid of what's inside it. Since the word on the street is that this compound is a prison for "bad Soldiers", they probably believe that we would pour out in an attack column similar to beating a hornets nest and expecting to get instantly stung by an overwhelming force. Smart move on their part.
With that lack of enemy contact aimed directly at our base, this gave our garrison commander the opportunity to do a little battlefield circulation yesterday. I found out from multiple sources that he and his entourage of a senior staff officer, public affairs photographer, and personal security detachment took a brief opportunity to come out to the tower closest to the action during the height of the gun battle yesterday and get some time in on the crew served weapons mounted there. In fact, so many people were there observing in the tower, the tower guards were asked to take a break and go to another tower. After hearing all this from multiple people present, I didn't feel quite so alarmed about the severity of the attack.
By mid morning of the following day, all of the insurgent fighters had been cleared form their holdout in the hotel down the street that was under construction. All throughout the night, there was limited sporadic gunfire and several explosions. The Haqqani had booby trapped the hotel where they had planned their holdout, but the ANP (Afghan National Police), in a daring and heroic assault, competently cleared their makeshift fortress. Since the International community has been training the ANPs, I expected nothing less from them.
By 0800hrs that next morning, we were relieved from our posts and the base had been taken down to THREATCON Charlie with the current threat neutralized. This gave me the opportunity to get a little more sleep before my next shift that started in about eight hours. Looking back over the last few days, I thought about how I had made a choice to stand up and assist just in case I was needed. I realized then I had chosen wisely and was glad I had stepped up.
More to follow.
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