OSI comes face-to-face with evil

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Brian Davidson
  • 455th Expeditionary Operations Group Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  For a group of specially trained airmen serving in Afghanistan, coming face-to-face with evil is just "another day at the office" as they conduct counterintelligence and anti-terrorism operations.

Tasked with providing military leaders current, accurate information about enemy threats, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations’ anti-terrorism specialty team is trained and equipped for rapid, worldwide deployment to the most harsh and hostile environments.

The team develops relationships with tribal, village and province leaders here to gain information on al-Qaida and Taliban activities and to locate weapons caches before the weapons can be used against coalition forces.

Recently, while working with one of the self-appointed provincial commanders in southern Afghanistan, the agents learned of a Taliban weapons cache in the village of Qalakhel. Coordinating with Marines deployed from Camp Lejeune, N.C., they headed out to find the weapons.

The convoy of OSI agents and Marines drove over the rough Afghan moonscape until they reached a dry riverbed where dirt roads ended and a treacherous path led up the mountain to the furthermost village.

Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, Qalakhel is a known Taliban village and was heavily bombed by coalition aircraft at the beginning of the Operation Enduring Freedom. Even now, many of the village inhabitants remain loyal to al-Qaida.

Riding all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes, the team made its way to the village past sheer cliffs, through deep mud and across rocky, dangerous terrain. Upon arrival, the agents met with village leaders in an attempt to gain cooperation in finding the weapons.

Although the provincial commander had provided basic information about the weapons’ location, the agents needed the villagers to show them the exact whereabouts.

One local resident insisted there were no weapons. The agents explained that the provincial commander had sent them to remove the weapons, and even offered thousands of dollars to villagers for their cooperation.

Arguments broke out among the village men as children were hidden away and a search of the area did not provide any leads.

Resorting to a harsher approach, the agents explained that if they returned with the provincial commander, and weapons were found, the village would not receive any financial aid.

The team withdrew from Qalakhel, and retraced its path back down the mountain. Hours later the agents returned, accompanied by the provincial commander and some of his soldiers carrying AK-47 assault rifles.

The OSI agents and Marines took up perimeter security around the village, allowing the Afghans to handle their own affairs. The commander confronted the villagers about the location of the weapons and the situation grew tense. Even after a physical altercation, the location of the weapons cache was not revealed.

Finally, the provincial commander took the village leader aside and placed three stones in his hand. In hushed tones, he told the man that if he continued to claim there were no hidden weapons, he should drop the stones to the ground. If he was lying, and weapons were found, his lie would cause him to become divorced from his wife.

With this, the leader hung his head and pointed to a muddy plateau nearby. Other village men came forward with shovels, and began to dig into the soft soil.

Once a hole had been excavated about 6 feet down, diggers struck a small wooden door. Behind the door was a vast underground cave filled with enough weaponry to outfit a small army.

"Our most important goal here is to help the Afghan people along the road to peace," said Special Agent Ken, anti-terrorism team commander here deployed from OSI Detachment 252 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. (For their protection, agents are identified by first name only.) "It's just as important that we not interfere with their culture as it is for us to locate and destroy weapons that can be used against our forces and innocent civilians."

The Qalakhel weapons cache held hundreds of 107 mm high-explosive rockets, 82 mm recoilless rifle rounds, 82 mm mortar rounds, rocket-propelled grenades and mines, most in perfect condition.

Further inspection of the village revealed the biggest surprise of all when dozens of old, live mortar rounds were found embedded in a mud wall and walkway.

"The country has been at war for so long, people have become desensitized to the dangers of these weapons," said Special Agent Tony, also from Lackland's Det. 252. "They don't even consider the peril their children are in when high explosives are used to reinforce a sidewalk."

Although destroying this weapons cache is a major blow to terrorism, it is just another mission for the anti-terrorism specialty team. These arms will be tallied with thousands of weapons found by Agents Ken and Tony in their daily contact with men whose affiliations link them to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Asked why he cooperates with coalition forces, the provincial commander said, "We can't let things go back to the way they were under the Taliban and al-Qaida. As long as they have access to those weapons, our children are not safe and Afghanistan will not prosper."

As recently as 1995, the Taliban were equipped with tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery and even aircraft. They still receive financial support from countries sympathetic to their cause, and rely on extortion and the drug trade to fund activities, said the agents.

"The Taliban human rights abuses are well-known, and the conditions for peace and stability worldwide will not be reached as long as they exist," Tony said.

To help make those conditions a reality, OSI anti-terrorism specialty teams have been serving here since before the start of military operations in September 2001.

Spending more than six months of each year in harm's way, the agents also deploy to several countries in Southwest Asia.

Besides their anti-terrorism role, these special agents provide security for servicemembers participating in humanitarian programs.

What would Special Agent Ken say to remaining Taliban members who still hope to regain power?

"Give up while you can,” he said. “It's just a matter of time before the good people of Afghanistan overcome their fear and take back their country. They will hold you accountable for the terrible things you have done."