NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
November 17, 2004
Release Number: 04-11-59
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CFC-A PRESS CONFERENCE OPENING STATEMENT
We continue to remain hopeful that Annetta Flanigan, Shqipe (Ship - ay) Hebibi, and Angelito Nayan, the three UN election workers abducted in Kabul on October 28, will be released unharmed. Annetta, Shqipe, and Angleito were in Afghanistan to facilitate the election in the hopes of helping the Afghan people build a better future for their country. As you know, the people of Afghanistan, and their religious and political leaders, have spoken out strongly against the kidnapping as contrary to the traditions and beliefs of the country. Like ISAF, we continue to stand ready to help ensure their safe return to their families and colleagues, if asked by the government of Afghanistan.
The overall security situation in Afghanistan continues to show improvement. There were significantly fewer incidents during the recently concluded Ramadan period than during the same periods over the previous two years. This is an important indicator of progress. We attribute this improvement in large part to the strengthening of Afghanistan's own security forces, especially the Afghan National Army.
Encouraged by the success of the Afghan National Army, and the very positive reaction of the people of Afghanistan to this professional, multi-ethnic force, the Coalition is accelerating the pace of ANA training. Twenty-six kandaks have already graduated from the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC), and three more are currently in training.
In addition, Afghan, Coalition and ISAF continue conducting active operations to deny those opposing peace and security the ability to harm the people of Afghanistan. Twelve weapons caches have been uncovered since November 9. Six of those caches were discovered in Kandahar Province, two in Ghazni Province, two in Oruzgan Province, one in Parwan Province near Bagram, and one in Bamian Province.
The two caches in Ghazni were significant finds. Included in these two caches were thousands of 12.7 and 14.5 millimeter rounds, 101 different types of mines, 83 rocket propelled grenade (RPG) rounds, 640 mortar rounds of different caliber, and 120 107 millimeter rounds, along with several different types of weapon parts and systems.
Finding these caches is important to security because these discoveries enable security forces to reduce the means that anti-coalition militia (ACM) can use to target security forces and intimidate the Afghan people.
Security within the borders of Afghanistan is also contingent upon an increased emphasis on regional security. To that end, we continue to be encouraged by active operations being conducted by military forces in Pakistan in the border region near Afghanistan. These operations are serving to improve security and promote stability in both nations and strongly signal Pakistan's willingness to assist in creating a more secure environment in this important region and the world.
Finally, two different media outlets in the region reported over the past two days that six
U.S. soldiers were killed in two separate incidents in Uruzgan Province. These reports are false.
We monitor reports about Coalition operations every day, we have access to information that reports casualties, and when we received a report that a Coalition soldier is wounded or killed, we are forthright about reporting such unfortunate news to the media.
It is important that you ask the Coalition for confirmation of casualty reports before publishing such information to ensure that your news service is not being used to generate incorrect or misleading reports. By checking with us, we can ensure that information in your reports are as accurate as possible.
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