Don’t expect much folks…
Our boy Greg Grant got his hands on the investigation report into the incident at COP Keating and true to form, the Army redacted 90 percent of it.
Here’s an example. This is the “Recommendations” page:
Keating Recommendations
Granted, this is the recommendation page, but to wholesale redact the entire thing is retarded. Also, notice the only thing left in is the praise for the medical training. So there was nothing else in there like that?
Also, here’s another section — the Findings.
Look at page 9 which asks about intelligence indicators of an attack and synthesis of the info. All redacted…
But in the press release from ISAF, a partial answer is right there: intelligence assessments had become desensitized to reports of massing enemy formations by previous reports that had proved false. So why can that say that in a press release but redact it in the official report?
And this one is good too. Look at page 10 on the above section — what was the drone/ISR situation for COP Keating? Redacted. But the press release tells us: critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets which had been supporting COP Keating had been diverted to assist ongoing intense combat operations in other areas.
Hmmm, is the right hand trying to cover up something the left hand doesn’t know about?
Don’t worry, I’m preparing a FOIA my friends…
– Christian
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Ahhhhhh. The DT trademark "Friday Red Meat Post".
Sounds like enough detail got through to describe what was important to the general public.
I can understand why the Army and DoD are interested in the full unredacted report because they can do something about whatever went wrong by making changes to future operations without the enemy knowing about exactly what we know or think went wrong, and what changes to operations will be made in the future. I consider such redaction as noted in this article to be no more than good OPSEC,
I therefore must wish DT "No Luck!" on the FOIA effort.
It is a truism that "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence".
It is an equal truism that absence of evidence is not in any way, shape, or form evidence of a coverup.
Small and fearful minds see conspiracies everywhere, but if wrongs were committed, people will be held accountable for that which they were responsible for, and the truth will 'out', independent of a journalistic curiosity. This should be self-evident in a culture where we seem incapable of keeping secret even that what should be kept secret.
Yet in the main comment thread immediately after this post, the 'outrage' over some perceived wrong and associated 'coverup' emerges. At the time of this writing, the 'wrong' and 'coverup' occur only in the fertile imagination of the posters. It will not be surprising if it remains ever so.
What is important is the security of COPs going forward. The rest will take care of itself.
What's important to the general public is that leadership, no matter what the branch–no matter what the rank is held accountable when they fail.
OPSEC is the flower that people hide behind when they don't want to confront the truth. Why? I don't know but the days of simply accepting stuff like this and thinking that its patriotic has to end. If it was a private that lost his weapon then he'd be up on office hours, reduced in rank and even jailed. Well the command staff here did more than that and they get a free pass.
I wish DT MUCH LUCK! on the FOIA effort.
OPSEC is entangled with honesty; it's either the right thing or the wrong thing because of it.
Someone just used the “R” word.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti…
It seems that someone wants it to be known that leadership failure will not be tolerated.
Is someone trying to lessen the impact of this report?
This is why good guys allways stay off the front.
They would be dead if they would know that truth newer outs.
Sometimes even with journalist going to extreme to reveal it…
:) :)
Wich is why it WOULD be important to keep most top spyes of the knowledge of any leader of any organisation.
Ques????
(I mean maby you just lately lost a nasty court case wrongfully but abandon ideas of revenge for what ever. If you would be there ques do you get court. Now ques is the country weoo lead??)
Is it common for an outpost of this area and the season to receive 10 attacks in 20 days? sounds like alot to me.
Could someone repost this and hang a link to it?
Army Networks block Scribd.
Thanks!
Well, i understand your point about the left hand not knowing what the right is doing. But when it comes to our defensive tactics/abilities/screw ups, I agree with the redact. Why should we let the WORLD know what we would/should/could have done better, and how we are gonna learn from it.
Our enemies can read the same stuff.
But if i missed the point then please explain.
This friends is a classic example of “dumb-Ass” ! Evidently , from the photograph, the COP appears to be well constructed however
The failure to remove Trees, brush, and other vegetation made it indefensible. Why have towers/walls, sand bagged positions if the attacking enemy can walk undetected up to your defenses.
I have spoken with my great grandson, who recently returned from Afghanistan after commanding a Rifle Company there for a year. His comments were ”
Unfortunately, soldiers have lost basic infantry skills or never had them.” Obviously, they did not have sectors of fires and clear observation for the towers. I Have spoken with my Great Grandson who recently returned from Afghanistan after commanding a Rifle Company there his comments were “We have turned into a reactive force instead of a kicking ass and taking names force”. I rest my case!
I would like to comment on the present Commanding General, McChrystal. In my humble opinion the man is some kind of Freak and should not be in command of anything.
Sherman R. Batman
MSG, USSF (Ret.)