Forward Operating Base Gardez Explained
The Gardez Fire Base was an American outpost in Afghanistan, near the city of Gardez, in the province of Paktia, near the border with Pakistan.The base was approximately 100 kilometers south of Kabul, and was the subject of regular attack in 2003.[1] In mid-August 2011, a truck packed with explosives detonated at the entrance, killing two Afghan guards but otherwise doing minimal damage to the base. The Taliban, however, made spurious claims of massive casualties and destroyed helicopters.
Colonel Burke Garrett published a letter in the Fort Drum Blizzard in which he described the living conditions at the Gardez Fire Base, and its neighboring bases:[2]
FOB Gardez was closed in November 2014 by the 319th Movement Control Team from Dover, Delaware (Army Reserve). The FOB was run by the 101st Airborne Division, 1st/506 Infantry Easy Co. (Band of Brothers).
Custodial death of Jamal Nasser
Jamal Nasser, an Afghan militia soldier in United States' custody, died at Gardez Fire Base on March 16, 2003.[3] [4] [5]
Nasser, 18-year-old Afghan militia soldier was captured with seven other militiamen in March 2003.[6] Members of the Green Beret team who captured Nasser and his comrades were under investigation because it was alleged that they hid his death, colluded and falsified their reports.
In 2004, eighteen months after his death, when Nasser's death in custody was brought to the attention of American headquarters, his death was attributed to a kidney infection.[7]
CBS News reported, on September 21, 2004, that former Paktia Governor Raz Mohammed Dalili confirmed that he had requested a Green Beret officer named "Mike" to apprehend militia soldiers who were conducting illegal roadblocks, on the Khost-Gardez highway, and extorting money from travelers. CBS News identified Dalili as the current Governor of Wardak Province.[8]
Later, an investigation determined that the account of death by natural causes was the result of collusion among the GIs in the Special Forces unit who had custody of Nasser when he died.[9] [10] After a two-year investigation, no one was held responsible for his death. Reprimands were filed in the dossiers of several GIs for the failure to report his death.
See also
References
- http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/print.asp?page=2003%5C12%5C06%5Cstory_6-12-2003_pg7_54 Militants attack US convoy in Afghanistan
- http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/postnews/blizzard/blizzard_archives/news.asp?id=3&issuedate=10-16-2003 Task force commander offers update from Afghanistan
- News: Patrick Leahy . Patrick Leahy . October 1, 2004 . Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Abuse of Foreign Detainees . https://web.archive.org/web/20080127144227/http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200410/100104C.html . 2008-01-27 . 2024-06-18 . United States Senate.
- News: Craig Pyes . Craig Pyes . March 2, 2007 . Independent reporting drew Army coverup, secrecy, delays . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070703101552/http://niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Showcase.view&showcaseid=0060 . 2007-07-03 . 2024-06-18 . Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.
- News: September 21, 2004 . New Probe Of Detainee Death: U.S. Troops Eyed In Allegations Of Torture Of Afghan Soldiers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20071018055647/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/23/world/main637823.shtml . 2007-10-18 . 2024-06-18 . CBS News.
- News: September 21, 2004 . New Probe Of Detainee Death . 2024-06-18 . CBS News.
- News: September 21, 2004 . New Probe Of Detainee Death: U.S. Troops Eyed In Allegations Of Torture Of Afghan Soldiers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20071018055647/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/23/world/main637823.shtml . 2007-10-18 . 2024-06-18 . CBS News.
- Web site: 2004-08-23 . New Probe Of Detainee Death - CBS News . 2024-06-18 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US.
- News: Patrick Leahy . Patrick Leahy . October 1, 2004 . Statement of Senator Patrick Leahy On Abuse of Foreign Detainees . https://web.archive.org/web/20080127144227/http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200410/100104C.html . 2008-01-27 . 2024-06-18 . United States Senate.
- News: Craig Pyes . Craig Pyes . March 2, 2007 . Independent reporting drew Army coverup, secrecy, delays . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20070703101552/http://niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Showcase.view&showcaseid=0060 . 2007-07-03 . 2024-06-18 . Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.
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