Sunday, August 22, 2010

Fantasy Finale

Lots in the news lately about WikiLeaks.

I'm a big fan of their work as I really do believe that information is a good thing. Democracy dies without transparency and freedom of the press.

While a number of people objected to the release of the Afghanistan war diaries, I found the information about the initial investigation into the disappearance of Pfc Bowe Bergdahl fascinating. It's clear from the early incident reports that Bergdahl's colleagues did whatever they could to find him. I'm not in the field of search and rescue, so maybe the process was flawed, or maybe there were other things they should have done, but it certainly looked crystal clear that the searchers gave it their best shot.

Kudos to them for their efforts.

As a result of WikiLeaks, every once in a while I have this fantasy that someone somewhere stumbles on this blog - reads a post like Evidence - physical and other - and covertly sends the relevant digital audio and satellite files to WikiLeaks. There's new evidence. They catch the bad guys. Justice is served.

But then reality kicks in, and I wonder if anyone would notice - or care. Because, let's face it, the missing in Iraq are out of sight and out of mind to all but their family, friends and a handful of press. And I do mean handful of press as in - 5 people world wide.

Which just makes the fantasy of new evidence so much better than the reality of ongoing indifference.

Americans Missing in Iraq - as of August 9, 2010

Friday, August 13, 2010

Joint Personnel Recovery Agency

The Defense Business Board has advised Secretary Gates that the Department of Defense eliminate Joint Forces Command.


I'm wondering what happens to the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency which is a subordinate of the Joint Forces Command at Fort Belvoir. The idea that it might go over to Special Operations Command doesn't inspire confidence. (See: Lynch, Jessica)

References

By Andrew Tilghman, Army Times, August 11, 2010

By Marc Ambinder, The Atlantic, August 9, 2010


Thursday, August 12, 2010

Issa Salomi

There's an interview with Issa Salomi about his kidnapping back in January. He talks about how easily his kidnappers moved through the check points manned by Iraqi personnel. Makes you wonder how vigilant were American personnel or did they just wave cars through?

San Diego man recounts Iraq kidnapping
By Julie Watson, San Diego Union Tribune, August 12, 2010

A U.S. Army contractor kidnapped in Iraq earlier this year described how his captors easily maneuvered past Iraqi checkpoints as he was held bleeding on the floor of their car.

In his first media interview since he was freed safely in March, Issa Salomi told The Associated Press he was handed over in exchange for four militants in Iraqi detention.

Shiite extremist group Asaib Ahl al-Haq, or "the League of the Righteous," claimed responsibility for his kidnapping. The group is believed to be close with Iran, and agreed last year to lay down its arms and join the Iraqi political process. Their current role is unclear.

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Data on Kidnappings from the State Department

Updated links and information on March 4, 2012

Continuing to try and find as much information as possible for the status table of Americans Missing in Iraq.


Current bedside reading are the annual Department of State Country Reports on Terrorism. The National Counterterrorism Center typically provides statistical data for the annual reports. It appears that the earliest publicly available data set published on kidnappings of U.S. citizens is 2005.

Bookmarking this index for future reference:
U.S. Department of State
Country Reports on Terrorism
The most recent Country Reports on Terrorism for 2010 from the Department of State was issued on August 18. There were no reported kidnappings in 2010 - which is surprising because defense contractor Issa T. Salomi was kidnapped on January 23, 2010 and then later released.

Terrorism Deaths, Injuries, Kidnappings of Private U.S. Citizens, 2010
Country Reports on Terrorism 2010
US Department of State
August 18, 2011
TERRORISM KIDNAPPINGS OF PRIVATE U.S. CITIZENS IN 2009



Country Reports on Terrorism 2009
US Department of State
August 5, 2010

CountryDate of KidnappingNumberLocation / Date Released or Rescued
ColumbiaFebruary 6, 20091Cali, Colombia – April 2009
ColumbiaMay 25, 20091Bogota, Colombia - May 28, 2009
KenyaJuly 17, 20091Luuq, Somalia – October 3, 2009
PakistanFebruary 2, 20091Quetta, Pakistan – April 4, 2009


TERRORISM KIDNAPPINGS OF PRIVATE U.S. CITIZENS IN 2008

So far, I have been unable to locate the US State data for 2008. It's listed in the 2008 Index as being in Chapter 7 of the report, but it's just not there.

The annual NCTC report, The 2008 Report on Terrorism of April 30, 2009, contains a pie chart, Chart 14 - US Citizen Terrorism Kidnappings by Country on page 32. It cites 4 kidnappings in Afghanistan and 1 in Panama. No mention of Iraq.

However, one news report about the abduction of Issa T. Salomi in early 2010 cited a previous kidnapping of an American citizen in the summer of 2008. See Officials confirm kidnapping of U.S. contractor in Iraq By Ernesto LondoƱo and Leila Fadel, Washington Post, February 6, 2010.
TERRORISM KIDNAPPINGS OF PRIVATE U.S. CITIZENS IN 2007

Terrorism Deaths, Injuries, Kidnappings of Private U.S. Citizens
Country Reports on Terrorism 2007

US Department of State
CountryDate of Incident NumberLocation
AfghanistanSeptember 221Kabul
Before November 71Kabul
ChadOctober 11Bardai
IraqJanuary 51Al-Haritha
January 272Sulaymaniyah
February 11Baghdad
March 31Baghdad
April 25 (approx)1Kuwait-Iraq border
May 251Kuwait-Iraq border
August 171Al Amarah
NigeriaJanuary 71Okan Oil Field, Delta State
May 11Okan Oil Field, Delta State
May 94Okan Oil Field, Delta State
TERRORISM KIDNAPPINGS OF PRIVATE U.S. CITIZENS IN 2006

Terrorism Deaths, Injuries, Kidnappings of Private U.S. Citizens
Country Reports on Terrorism 2006

US Department of State

CountryDate of DeathNumberLocation
AfghanistanMarch 30, 2006*
1
Near Gresham, Afghanistan
IraqMarch 30, 2006*
1
Baghdad, Iraq
July 9, 2006*
1
Baghdad, Iraq
August 5, 2006*
1
Baghdad, Iraq
November 16, 2006
4
Aswan, Iraq
Israel, Gaza, and the West BankJune 10, 2006*
1
Nobles, the West Bank
August 27, 2006*
1
Gaza City, Gaza
NigeriaJanuary 30, 2006*
1
Offshore the Niger Delta, Nigeria
August 23, 2006*
1
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

*Date rescued/released.

TERRORISM KIDNAPPINGS OF PRIVATE U.S. CITIZENS IN 2005
Terrorism Deaths, Injuries, Kidnappings of Private U.S. Citizens
Country Reports on Terrorism 2005

US Department of State
CountryDate of IncidentNumberLocation
IraqJanuary 12*1Unknown
IraqApril 111Taji
IraqMay 171Unknown
IraqMay 22*1Unknown
IraqAugust 10*1Unknown
IraqSeptember 7*1Mansour
IraqSeptember 271Unknown
IraqNovember 291Baghdad
IraqDecember 21Unknown
IraqDecember 51Baghdad
Israel, Gaza, and the West BankOctober 12*1Khan Younis [Gaza]
*Date rescued/released

Tables used as is from the Department of State.

Statistical information within the report comes from the Worldwide Incidents Tracking System (WITS) of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). WITS is searchable and open to the public.

NCTC issues an annual report. The report "contains details about incidents of violence against civilians and non-combatants (including military personnel and assets outside of war-like settings) from publicly available information."
WITS maintains a detailed database of incidents. Methodology and definitions are explained in its most recent report from April. In fact, the report is worth reading just for its detailed description of just what they consider to be an act of terrorism.
National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Report on Terrorism
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
National Counterterrorism Center, Washington, DC
April 30, 2010
A fascinating side note is that the Department of Defense has a very different definition of terrorism, one that apparently is not universally accepted outside of the DOD.

Sunday, August 01, 2010

Americans Missing in Iraq

LAST UPDATED: January 23, 2011

Attached is a chart showing the incident date, name, link to incident report (SIGACT) when available, and status of those Americans known to be missing and/or held hostage in Iraq in table format.

Text of available SIGACT reports are now posted at the Missing Man, SIGACT Reports of Americans Missing in Iraq.

I will continue to update this post as new information comes to light.

REVISIONS

August 9, 2010 - based on National Counterterrorism Center data and statistics included in the annual Country Reports on Terrorism from the US Department of State

October 14, 2010 - addition of the name of Abbas Kareem Naama (Tim Naama) who was kidnapped on the morning of September 27, 2005 in Baghdad, Iraq.

October 23, 2010 - (ongoing) adding links to the initial incident reports as I find them at WikiLeaks Iraq War Logs

December 19, 2010 - corrected date of the abduction of Tom Fox to November 26, 2005. 

January 23, 2011 - in all likelihood, the name 'Bob Hamza' should be included in the chart below but his nationality and the date of his abduction remains unknown. See Bob Hamza - missing
Americans Missing in Iraq - as of January 23, 2011

(Note: reference links in the chart are currently inactive. For active links, see SIGACT Reports of Americans Missing in Iraq.)

DateName - incident reportStatus
1Oct 9, 2003Kirk von Ackermannmissing1
2Apr 9, 2004Thomas Hamill (see note above)escaped
3Apr 9, 2004Nicholas Evan Bergdeceased
4Apr 9, 2004William Bradleydeceased
5Apr 9, 2004Pfc Keith Matthew Maupindeceased
6Apr 9, 2004Timothy E Bellmissing2
7May 3, 2004Aban Eliasmissing3
8Aug 13, 2004Micah Garenreleased
9Sept 16, 2004Jack Henlseydeceased
10Sept 16, 2004Olin Eugene Armstrong Jrdeceased
11Oct 10, 2004Paul Taggartreleased
12Nov 1, 2004Roy Hallumsreleased
13Nov 2, 2004Dean Sadekmissing4
14Apr 11, 2005Jeffrey Akemissing5
15May 17, 2005unknown - incident?missing6
16Aug 2, 2005Steven Charles Vincentdeceased
17Sept 27, 2005Abbas Kareem Naama (Tim)missing7
18Nov 25, 2005Ronald Alan Schulz deceased
19Nov 26, 2005Thomas William Foxdeceased
20Dec 2, 2005unknownmissing8
21Jan 7, 2006Jill Carrollreleased
22Jun 16, 2006Pfc Kristian Menchacadeceased
23Jun 16, 2006Pfc Thomas Tuckerdeceased
24Oct 23, 2006Sgt Ahmed Qusai al-Taayiemissing9
25Nov 16, 2006Jonathon Michael Cotedeceased
26Nov 16, 2006Paul Christopher Johnson-Reubendeceased
27Nov 16, 2006Joshua Mark Munnsdeceased
28Nov 16, 2006John Roy Youngdeceased
29Nov 27, 2006Maj Troy Lee Gilbert (deceased)missing10
30Jan 5, 2007Ronald J Withrowdeceased
31Jan 27, 2007unknown - incident?missing11
32Jan 27, 2007unknown - incident?missing12
33Feb 1, 2007unknown Iraqi-American citizenmissing13
34Mar 3, 2007unknown American-Iraqi citizenmissing14
35Apr 25, 2007unknownmissing15
36May 12, 2007Sgt Alex Ramon Jimenezdeceased
37May 12, 2007Pfc Byron W Foutydeceased
38May 25, 2007unknownmissing16
39Aug 17, 2007unknownmissing17
40summer 2008unknownmissing18
41May 21, 2009Jim Kittermandeceased
42Jan 23, 2010Issa T Salomireleased

Not included in the chart (at this time) are the troops taken POW (status: missing) during the invasion of March 2003. All were Returned to Military Control:
Spc. Edgar Hernandez
Spc. Joseph Hudson
Spc. Shoshana Johnson
Pfc. Patrick Miller
Sgt. James Riley
Pfc. Jessica Lynch
Chief warrant officer David Williams
Chief warrant officer Ronald Young Jr.
US Navy pilot Capt. Michael Scott Speicher, shot down during Gulf War I, is also not included. Speicher's remains were recovered in August of 2009.

Additions/corrections are welcome, please email me at susie.dow at gmail.com

About the Data

Links to the initial incident reports have been culled from the WikiLeaks Iraq War Logs. Incident reports should more properly be referred to as 'SIGACT,' short for 'Significant Activity' or 'Significant Action.'
  • the data is based on news reports which often contradict each other
  • an article from April 2010 (US Operation aims to find missing) cites 11 missing Americans
  • a February 2010 article cites 17 missing (They search if someone's missing in Iraq) which conflicts with the current count of 18. Think positive, let's assume someone was released.
  • an article from October 2008 cites a total of 39 kidnapped Americans of which 22 are known to have been executed (Iraq calmer but copycat kidnappings spread). The chart above was started with 39 kidnapped Americans as a base line.
  • the data represents the minimum number of missing Americans. Companies and/or families may deliberately choose not report a hostage or kidnap victim to US government agencies. I was told by one representative of the Department of Labor that they were aware of unreported contractors missing in Iraq.
  • not all names of those missing - both past and present - are known and/or publicized for a number of reasons
  • Technically, the status of 'released' should more properly be referred to as 'Returned to Military Control' (RMC)

References

Iraq War Logs
Alternative WikiLeaks mirror site
WikiLeaks, October 22, 2010

Data on Kidnappings from the State Department 
Summary of the findings of the reports for 2005 - 2009
August 8, 2010

Terrorism Deaths, Injuries, Kidnappings of Private U.S. Citizens, 2009
Country Reports on Terrorism 2009
US Department of State

Terrorism Deaths, Injuries, Kidnappings of Private U.S. Citizens
Country Reports on Terrorism 2007
US Department of State

Terrorism Deaths, Injuries, Kidnappings of Private U.S. Citizens
Country Reports on Terrorism 2006
US Department of State

Terrorism Deaths, Injuries, Kidnappings of Private U.S. Citizens
Country Reports on Terrorism 2005
US Department of State

Liberator II continues effort to find missing
By Sgt. 1st Class Roger Dey, April 20, 2010

US operation aims to find missing
By Sgt. 1st Class Roger Dey, 103rd Public Affairs Detachment, April 21, 2010

They search if someone’s missing in Iraq
By Scott Fontaine, The News Tribune, February 8, 2010

Officials confirm kidnapping of U.S. contractor in Iraq
By Ernesto LondoƱo and Leila Fadel, Washington Post, February 6, 2010

Iraq calmer but copycat kidnappings spread
By Pamela Hess, Associated Press, October 13, 2008