Terror Suspect In U.S. To Face Charges

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From 'MSNBC': In what would be the clearest break yet from the Bush Administration's legal strategy in the war on terror, the Justice Department is preparing criminal charges against the only person still held inside the United States as an enemy combatant. Ali al-Marri, who has been held at the U.S. Navy brig in Charleston, S.C., would be charged and tried in regular civilian court under a plan now being worked out, Justice officials say. The Bush administration claimed al-Marri trained with al-Qaida in Afghanistan, had direct contact with Osama bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and was sent to the United States to help carry out further attacks.

Al-Marri arrived in Peoria in September 2001 with his wife and five children to do graduate work at Bradley University. Three months later he was charged with credit card fraud and possession of false ID's. Then in 2003, a month before he was to stand trial, President Bush declared al-Marri an enemy combatant and an al-Qaida agent. Since the day he was seized — June 23, 2003, al-Marri has been in Navy custody.

The transfer could avert a Supreme Court hearing in April and a subsequent ruling that would govern other cases against accused terrorists. To justify holding al-Marri, the Bush administration claimed the president has the wartime authority to send the military into any U.S. neighborhood, capture a citizen and hold him in prison without charge, indefinitely. One of the people familiar with the al-Marri case said prosecutors plan to charge al-Marri with providing material support to terrorists, a charge similar to what he would have faced if tried by a military tribunal.

Putting al-Marri into the federal court system follows a similar move made by the Bush administration with another enemy combatant, Jose Padilla. Padilla, once held at the same brig as al-Marri, was eventually convicted of terror-related charges in federal court in Florida. President Barack Obama's administration faces a mid-April deadline to tell the Supreme Court what it intends to do in his case. Al-Marri's lawyers have challenged the government's authority to pick up people on American soil, declare them enemy combatants, and detain them indefinitely.

The lower courts have been divided over the issue. But in the most recent decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled 5 to 4 that the president can detain people in the U.S., including American citizens, indefinitely without charge. Obama's Justice Department was to have decided whether to pursue that claim of presidential power or change course. By charging al-Marri in civilian court, it would dodge that question of presidential authority. The Associated Press reported that prosecutors were planning to send al-Marri to a federal court in Illinois.

Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd declined to comment on the plans for al-Marri. "If this is true, it's an important step," said Jonathan Hafetz, one of al-Marri's lawyers. "This is what should have happened seven years ago. Indefinite military detention, without charge, of people with legal residence in America is illegal." Yet such a move may derail the legal challenge Hafetz and the American Civil Liberties Union have brought to the Supreme Court. The new administration might not want to force the court to decide that issue, thereby preserving the possibility that Obama or future presidents could exercise that power. The government says al-Marri is an al-Qaida sleeper agent who has met Osama bin Laden and spent time at a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan.

After he was arrested as a material witness in late 2001, authorities first charged him with credit card fraud. Later, officials said he had strong links to al-Qaida terrorists, so President Bush declared him an enemy combatant and transferred him to the military brig. In court documents, the government contends that al-Marri met with bin Laden in the summer of 2001 and "offered to be an al-Qaida martyr or to do anything else that al-Qaida requested."

A government summary of the case — declassified in 2006 — indicated al-Marri was closely tied with senior al-Qaida leadership, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks. Al-Marri's brother was also seized by U.S. officials and sent to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. "Al-Qaida sent al-Marri to the United States to facilitate other al-Qaida operatives in carrying out post-September 11, 2001 terror attacks," the government contended.

Gates: 'Significant Military Success' In Iraq

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From 'AFP': US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Sunday touted military success in Iraq, and stressed he did not expect changes to US troop drawdown plans there. Asked if the United States will have achieved victory when it withdraws from Iraq, Gates said "we have had a significant success (on) the military side," while acknowledging "the political side is still a work in progress in Iraq. "Frankly, I think before you start using terms like 'won' or 'lost' or 'victory' or 'defeat,' those are the kinds of things that I think historians have to judge," he told NBC television.

President Barack Obama on Friday ordered an end to US combat in Iraq within 18 months, by August 31, 2010. The announcement was politely received by an audience of Marines. The new US leader said up to 50,000 US troops, down from the current 142,000-strong force, would remain in Iraq under a new mission until the end of 2011, nearly nine years after his predecessor George W. Bush ordered an invasion to topple late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Asked about the projections for the troop levels of an interim force, which angered many Obama supporters eager for a full withdrawal, Gates said: "I don't think it was a concession (to commanders). I think that there was a lot of analysis of the risks that were involved. I think that if the commanders had had complete say in this matter that they would've preferred that the combat mission not end until the end of 2010," he said. So "it was really a dialogue between the commanders in the field, the joint chiefs here myself, the chairman and the president, in terms of how you mitigate risk and how you structure this going forward," Gates said. "Having a somewhat larger residual, or transition, force, mitigates the risk of having the combat units go out sooner," he explained.

Gates acknowledged the picture was anything but uncomplicated and rosy. "Mosul is a problem. The Arab/Kurd tensions are a problem. The need to get an oil law is a problem. So, there are problems," he said. "We have the concerns associated with a national election at the end of this year as one of the reasons why [US military commander in Iraq General Ray] Odierno wanted to keep those troops there as long as possible. Or a significant number of troops." While "there has been real progress on the political side ... there is clearly unfinished business in that arena, as well."

Mullen Comfortable With Iraq Timetable

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From 'Washington Post': The top U.S. military official says he's comfortable with the president's decision on a troop pullout timetable from Iraq. Admiral Mike Mullen says he was able to offer his best military advice to President Barack Obama. The Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman is reluctant to talk about "winning and losing" in Iraq. But he says the conditions are in place for the Baghdad government to successfully take control of the country.



Mullen says Obama listened extensively to the American military leadership and U.S. commanders in Iraq before announcing last week that the combat mission would end on August 31, 2010. Under Obama's plan, the 142,000 U.S. forces in Iraq would be drawn down to between 35,000 and 50,000 troops by the 2010 date. All forces would be withdrawn by the last day of 2011. Mullen spoke on "Fox News Sunday" and CNN's "State of the Union."

Iraq Assumes Responsibility For SoI In Kirkuk

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From 'MNFI': A large and diverse crowd gathered at an Iraqi Army base known as K-1, in Kirkuk to witness the official transfer of responsibility of the Sons of Iraq (SoI) in Kirkuk province from the U.S. Military to the Iraqi Army's (IA) 12th Division on February 25th. The SoI program is regarded by Coalition Forces (CF) as an important security organization consisting of citizen Soldiers who assisted in the fight against terrorists and improving security in Iraq. The program began in 2007. The crowd consisted of SoI, IA leaders, Kirkuk Provincial Police and U.S. military. The historic event marks significant steps in transferring the SoI to the Government of Iraq, who will make the first payment to them by April 1st.

Major General Abdul Ameer, the division commander for the 12th IA Division, was present to represent the IA, and Major General Robert Caslen, commander, Multi-National Division-North, was present to sign on behalf of CF. The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the future of SoI and how to best continue their efforts in the region. “This ceremony and what the SoI have done is very historic,” said Caslen. According to Caslen, this transition is very important to the security of the region. By joining the SoI and the 12th IA, we are bringing different groups together to make one force that can defend Iraq. “As we transition responsibility of the SoI to the GoI, it is important that we do it right and we must all be collectively committed to the success of this transfer,” said Caslen.

“We have a well-studied plan for the future of the SoI,” said Ameer. “We are coordinating with the leaders of the SoI. We are conducting meetings and planning for the future of the SoI.” The first step for the SoI’s integration will be arranging for payments to be made by the Government of Iraq (GoI) rather than CF, according to Ameer. “We are going to pay them the same way we pay our Soldiers,” said Ameer. “We want them to receive the same services as us. We are now in the process of making committees that will ensure the payments get to the SoI, and we are ready to assist and help them any way we can.”

Another step will be in determining the specific geographic operational areas for the SoIs. “Each SoI unit will have its area of responsibility,” said Ameer. As the SoI begin to integrate with the 12th IA Division, leaders are focusing on combining the efforts of both to increase security within the region. “Our goal is to join the SoI and the IA,” said Ameer. “We want them to participate in what the IA does. We want to integrate the SoI in our plans for securing the Kirkuk province. We are going to make combined checkpoints with both IA and SoI, and we will include them in raids and information-gathering in the region.”

Leaders within the 12th IA agreed with Ameer’s plans and added that they needed to have constant communication with the SoI in order to make this possible. The historic transition will be finalized April 1st when the SoI receive their first payment from the GoI. The consolidation of the AO’s and joint security efforts will continue to move forward in the coming months and the GoI will soon have complete responsibility of the SoI.

El Salvador Honors Soldiers Who Served In Iraq

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From 'Associated Press': Salvadoran President Tony Saca has declared the country's participation in Iraq a "mission accomplished," as the country honors the last returning contingent of soldiers who served there. More than 3,000 Salvadoran soldiers have served in Iraq performing reconstruction work since 2003. The last contingent of about 200 returned on February 7th, ending Latin America's military presence there. El Salvador says the troops carried out 353 water treatment, education, health care, road and electricity projects. Five Salvadoran soldiers were killed and 20 wounded during the five-year deployment. Saca distributed medals to soldiers who served in Iraq at a sports stadium on Saturday.


El Salvador President Tony Saca (right) reviews troops just back from Iraq

Pak Military: Taliban 'Lost' In Bajaur, Mohmand

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From 'The Long War Journal': Two senior Pakistani military officers claimed the Taliban has been defeated in the tribal agencies of Bajaur and Mohmand, where the Taliban have held power for years. Major General Tariq Khan, the Inspector General of the Frontier Corps, said the Taliban "lost" in Bajaur after an eight-month military operation. "They have lost," Tariq said during a press conference in Bajaur, the Associated Press reported. "Their resistance has broken down."

The joint Army and frontier Corps operation destroyed Taliban command centers, bunkers, and fortifications, Tariq said. The roads in Bajaur are now under control of the military. Ninety-seven soldiers and paramilitary troops were killed during the operation and more than 400 were wounded. The military claims more than 1,800 Taliban have been killed, a claim disputed by the Taliban. "We think we have secured this agency," Tariq said, according to a report by the Times News Network. "The Taliban have lost their cohesion." The military plan on withdrawing some forces but will maintain a military presence, the general said.

In the neighboring tribal agency of Mohmand, Colonel Saif Ullah claimed the Taliban have been defeated and the region is "under the control of law enforcement agencies." Fighting spilled over into Mohmand as the fighting in Bajaur intensified last fall. The officer did not provide casualty numbers for the military or the Taliban.

The US has conducted several airstrikes Bajaur, including two attacks that targeted Zawahiri and another that killed Abu Sulayman Jazairi, a senior Algerian operative for al Qaeda who was the terror groups' operational commander tasked with planning attacks against the West.

ANP Detain 8, Prevent IED Attack

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From 'DVIDS': Afghan National Police (ANP) assisted by Coalition Forces detained eight militants and prevented an improvised explosive device (IED) attack, today, in the Ghazni District, in Ghazni province, approximately 150 km southwest of Kabul. While conducting a combat reconnaissance patrol, in support of efforts to bring peace and stability to the region, the combined forces observed individuals placing an IED on the road. The combined forces convoy followed the individuals to a compound in Ghazni City. The ANP conducted a search of the compound, discovering a cache containing IED-making materials, including two remote-control devices, wire and pressure plate materials. Two AK-47 rifles were also discovered. The ANP took eight militants into custody.

The IED placed on the road was safely removed by the combined forces before it could cause injuries to Afghan civilians, or the combined force. No ANP, Coalition Force or non-combatant casualties were reported. “The vigilance and expertise of the ANP was key in stopping an insurgent attack today,” said Afghan Ministry of Interior spokesman, Zemarai Bashary. “The ANP continue to successful remove insurgents and increase the security of Afghanistan.”

Missiles Kill Seven In Pakistan

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From 'BBC': Missiles said to have been fired by US unmanned aircraft have killed seven people close to Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, Pakistani sources say. Two missiles reportedly struck a house in Sararogha, in South Waziristan, and the dead are believed to include suspected militants. The region is a stronghold of Pakistani Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud. US drones have targeted the area with missiles before, in attacks criticised by Pakistani politicians.

Local people said Taleban militants had been operating from the house which was attacked. When asked about the attack, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he would not talk about the specifics of US operations. But, speaking to Fox News, he added that the military overall was "carrying out guidance from [US] President [Barack] Obama" in the region.

A villager, named by Reuters news agency as Hakeemullah, said that people were searching the rubble for more casualties. "It was a Taleban sanctuary, which was destroyed in the attack," an unnamed Pakistani security official told AFP news agency. "Some foreigners were possibly among those killed." At least four of the dead are believed to have been foreign militants, unnamed Pakistani officials told the Associated Press. They added that drones were seen in the air ahead of the strike and Taleban fighters afterwards surrounded the damaged house which was allegedly a militant training facility.

Previous US missile attacks have been aimed at militant groups such as al-Qaeda, which have used the region as a base for attacks inside Afghanistan. More than 20 such attacks have been carried out on targets in north-western Pakistan in recent months. The US and Pakistan have had serious disagreements over the Afghan border zone, with Washington unhappy at Pakistani efforts to tackle militants and Islamabad condemning the US drone attacks.

Pakistani leaders had expressed hope that the new US administration would halt the controversial air strikes, saying they fuelled public anger and complicated Pakistan's own counter-insurgency efforts. But the drone attacks have continued since Mr Obama was inaugurated as US president in January.