090707_Red Bull Report - Minnesota National Guard

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July 7, 2009
Iraqi government working to bring
suspects in IED attack to justice
By Sgt. Frank Vaughn
MND-S
Rosha also said the three suspects
have confessed to the attack and are
COB BASRA – Three su
suspects are in currently working with officials to pinthe custody of Iraqi officials following point several other people who may
an improvised explosive device attack have also been party to the incident.
in Muthanna Province, Iraq, June 16
Capt. David Peterson, chief of rule
that resulted in the death of an Ameri- of law for the SJA, MND-S, said the
can Soldier.
three are being adjudicated by the loSgt. Joshua W. Soto, 25, an infantry- cal court system in Muthanna Provman with Delta Company, 77th Armor ince rather than having to go through
Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, the Central Criminal Court of Iraq in
1st Armored Division, and native of Baghdad, which has previously been
San Angelo, Texas, was killed when an the standard for cases such as this.
IED exploded near his vehicle.
“There is a move to keep post-JanuMaj. Darrin Rosha, chief of opera- ary ‘09 cases for local prosecution at the
tional law for the Staff Judge Advocate provincial level where the incidents acof Multi-National Division-South, said tually happen when it is practical to do
the three suspects, including the al- so,” the Sartell, Minn. native said. “This
leged triggerman in the incident, were makes it much easier to coordinate with
captured by Iraqi Police following the witnesses in getting them to the courtattack.
house and saves time away from their
families and jobs. It also
shortens the time for cases
to be processed and lessens
the likelihood of witness intimidation in these cases.”
This effort to try cases
at the provincial level in
Iraq whenever possible has
come about partially as a result of cooperation between
U.S. and Iraqi officials, according to Peterson.
“The role of Provincial
Reconstruction Teams and
brigade-level judge advocates in helping the Iraqis
develop their rule of law has
Courtesy photo
been relationship-based,”
Sgt. Joshua W. Soto, 25, an infantryman with Delta Company, 77th
Peterson said. “There has
Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division,
been a lot of hard work
and native of San Angelo, Texas, was killed when an IED exploded
between them and local ofnear his vehicle in an attack against U.S. forces in Muthanna
Province June 16.
ficials to develop trust and
that has been instrumental in assisting
them with their efforts.”
Peterson also said the Iraqis have
“This is a crucial step.
Iraqis are developing a
fair, uniform system of law
across the provinces.”
– Capt. David Peterson
Chief of Rule of Law, SJA, MND-S
their own system and U.S. officials
merely serve as advisors.
“The PRTs and brigade judge advocates give suggestions on developing
the Iraqi legal system and they are eager to learn,” Peterson said. “PRTs and
brigade judge advocates have initiated
programs to bring judges and police
together in the provinces in a cooperative fashion to withstand judicial scrutiny. However, the work is done within
the Iraqi system and they decide how
to use the suggestions they are given.”
The case currently being processed
in Muthanna Province is an important
step in testing the strength of Iraqi rule
of law as it now exists, according to
Rosha.
“This is a watershed case,” the Owatonna, Minn. native said. “If they are
successful this will promote the application of the rule of law to these
kinds of crimes at the local level. This
is a crucial step. Iraqis are developing
a fair, uniform system of law across the
provinces.”
For more of Sgt. Vaughn’s stories, visit:
www.TheRedBulls.org/Vaughn
The Red Bull Report
July 7, 2009  Page 2
Jambo! A look at the Sabre guards of COB Basra
Photo essay by J. Princeville Lawrence, MND-S
Every morning and every
night Soldiers at Contingency
Operating Base Basra can expect to hear the same friendly
greeting as they walk through
security checkpoints on base:
“Jambo, jambo!”
“It’s the way you can say,
hi, hi in Swahili,” said Innocent Byarahunga, a security
guard with Sabre International Security. “Everyone knows
jambo, jambo.”
Employed so troops are
available for their combat
duties, Sabre personnel hail
primarily from Uganda and
neighboring East African
countries, where they were
engineers, educators and
students who deployed
with Sabre for a better life
for themselves and for their
families.
(Above) Boaz Atushasire, (left) a Sabre
security guard from Uganda, trains Peter
Munene, (right) a guard from Kenya, who
will replace Atushasire when he rotates to
another base in Iraq. Sabre guards are
often rotated from base to base.
(Left) Innocent Byarahunga, a Sabre
security guard at COB Basra, said he
enjoyed talking to Soldiers and teaching
them bits of Swahili. “I’m going to miss the
friends I made here,” said Byarahunga.
(Right) Back in Uganda, Moses Mubiiru
lives on his father’s farm, a five-acre plot
that his father has tended for the past 15
years. Agriculture accounts for 80% of
Uganda’s economy, and when Mubiiru
goes home, he stands to inherit his
father’s farm.
The Red Bull Report is an authorized
publication for members of MND-S.
Contents of The Red Bull Report are not
necessarily official views of, or endorsed
by, the U.S. Government, Department of
Defense, Department of the Army or the
34th Infantry Division. All editorial content
of The Red Bull Report is prepared, edited
provided and approved by the 34th Infantry
Division Public Affairs Office.
JAMBO!
Page 4
34th Inf. Div. PAO: Lt. Col. Kevin Olson
172nd Brigade Combat Team
OIC, Command Information: Maj. Page Baldwin
2nd BCT, 4th Infantry Division
NCOIC: Staff Sgt. Dave Lankford
4th BCT, 1st Armored Division
Managing Editor: Staff Sgt. Derek Smith
41st Fires Brigade
Assignment Editor: Sgt. Debralee P. Crankshaw
343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Graphics Designer: Sgt. Eric Jungels
193rd Military Police Battalion
Photo Editor: Spc. Tyler Maulding
Special Troops Battalion, 34th Inf. Div.
Layout/Design: Spc. Stephanie Cassinos
Task Force 28
Staff Writers: Sgt. Frank Vaughn,
450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne)
Sgt. Brandon LeFlore, Spc. Darryl Montgomery, Media Queries please contact 34th Inf. Div. Public
Pfc. J. Princeville Lawrence
Affairs Office at [email protected]
The Red Bull Report
July 7, 2009  Page 3
This old truck
Commentary by Staff Sgt. Derek Smith
MND-S
On a dusty stretch of road just outside Contingency
Operating Base Adder, rests this old truck.
At least, at some point in the not-so-distant past it was a
truck. Now it is little more than a pile of metal in the shape
of a truck.
The vehicle sits abandoned, stripped of its paint, its
instruments and anything of any remote use. With its parts
removed, so is its purpose.
It’s midmorning and the sun has already started pounding once again upon its hull. Dulled, sand-blasted and sunbaked, it lay slightly tilted in the field next to a pile of old
metal poles. They are its only companions.
There is an air of sadness here that isn’t easily explained.
It seems as though it knows the days ahead are fewer than
those behind.
How did this truck finally find this spot to rest? It’s
imbedded in the ground up to its chassis as if it planted
roots. It’s as if it said, “Enough already. This is where I’m
staying.”
One can almost sense wariness from the old girl upon
approach. Curiosity has gotten the better of me. I can’t
resist. The area is secure and my reason for being here is a
bit of a bust anyway.
Camera in hand, I approach her and ask if it’s all right if
I look around.
I don’t get a response, not a discernable one anyway.
The camera loves her. The elements have worn away all
glamour and flair she once had. There is only the core of
what she was. I look closer.
The seats are gone. She has no engine. Even the instrug wheel are g
y were put
p
ments and steering
gone. I fig
gure they
T
here is a kinship here that I
regretfully accept. I had
resigned myself to the reality that
I wasn’t getting any younger.
to good use elsewhere, but I will never know.
The obliging organ donor bids me a bit closer. I reach
out.
The metal is hot and rough. The sun and wind have
certainly taken their toll, but the core is sound. It does not
give.
I lean in and gaze through the windshield, or lack
thereof. I’m looking through her eyes, so to speak.
She watches over a barren field to a distant site where
Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone workers have staked their
claim and set up shop by COB Adder. It’s as if she’s watching over them.
Is there hope in the cab of this old truck?
She’s a relic of the past, abandoned for whatever reason
under circumstances which I may never know. She sits on
this spot keeping vigil over a prospect for the future. Is this
Photo by Staff Sgt. Derek Smith
This old truck rests outside Contingency Operating Base Adder. She keeps
a quiet vigil over the Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone across a quiet field right
outside the gate. A look through her eyes may have revealed a little more than
expected.
irony within an iron chassis?
There is a kinship here that I regretfully accept. I had
resigned myself to the reality that I wasn’t getting any
younger. My past has taken a toll on me and all I really
have to count on is the core of who I am.
The wind has picked up a bit and stings my eyes. They
water and I wipe them quickly on my sleeve. It was just the
wind . . . really.
A truck pulls up. It’s a lot newer and still has years of
life before it. My compatriots are waiting for me to leave. I
don’t want to, but even I realize that the past is the past for
a reason. It’s not now.
I climb into the shiny silver pick-up and shut the door. I
take one last look back at the old girl and smile.
I felt she had no purpose anymore. Now, I’m not so sure.
She resumes her vigil over the field as we start to pull away.
I too, have a field to watch over and I need to get back
soon.
I could swear that truck is smiling back at me.
I may have been out in the sun too long.
For more of Staff Sgt. Smith’s stories or to comment, visit:
www.TheRedBulls.org/Smith
The Red Bull Report
From page 2
JAMBO!
(Top Right) Stephan Mugisha is
studying law to become a politician like
his dad, who is a city representative
in Uganda. The Sabre guards are
multi-lingual, often knowing their
local language in addition to Swahili,
the business language of Western
Africa, English, the national language
of Uganda, and bits and pieces of
French and German, which are used in
neighboring countries.
(Bottom right) Employed so troops
are available for their combat duties,
Sabre personnel hail primarily from
Uganda and neighboring East African
countries.
(Bottom left) John Setuba has a degree
in civil engineering and had a small
company, “working for subcontractors
and big companies.” Setuba said he
joined Saber to help support his family.
“Three of my brothers have passed
away. I’m the second in the family now.
I’m not married, but I have a kid. She’s
five years,” said Setuba. “That’s my
family now.”
(Below) “We have a house that was
built by my mom. I still stay there with
my family,” said Sabre guard Innocent
Byarahunga, a plumber in Uganda.
“That’s what I’m going to go do when
I get back to Uganda, I have to get my
own house.”
July 7, 2009 Page 4
The Red Bull Report
July 7, 2009  Page 5
Legal Assistance and Powers of Attorney
The Legal Assistance staff can
help you out with a variety of
legal services including powers
of attorney, notarizations, wills,
health care directives, divorce,
child support, child custody,
immigration, consumer issues,
landlord tenant issues and other
legal matters.
Many of our clients come in
because they need a power of
attorney. There are a few things
all service members should know
about powers of attorney. A power of attorney is a legal document
allowing someone to act on your
behalf. There are two types of
powers of attorney, general and
special. While a general power
of attorney allows the person
you name, your attorney-in-fact,
to do almost anything that you
could legally do, a special power
of attorney lists a specific act or
acts that your attorney-in-fact is
authorized to do. While a power
of attorney will generally be accepted for most purposes, there
are some acts that cannot be completed because of the personal
nature of those items, such as
applying for a passport or a marriage license.
A power of attorney can be
useful in many instances that
arise while military members
are deployed. A special power
of attorney can be used to refinance or sell a home, manage
bank accounts, pay bills, receive
household goods, register and
operate a motor vehicle, act as
the guardian of minor children,
enroll in DEERS and Tricare, and
prepare income taxes. These are
just a few of the acts that can be
performed with a power of attorney. Some businesses and banks
will not accept your power of attorney, instead, they may require
a power of attorney prepared by
that institution.
There can also be disadvantag-
es to having a power of attorney.
It is possible that the person you
appoint as your attorney-in-fact
could misuse the power of attorney. For instance, a wife who
just separated from her husband
could use a power of attorney
to clean out his bank account.
In other cases, an elderly person
could give a power of attorney to
a younger relative, only to find
the younger relative spent all of
their assets. An attorney-in-fact
could use a power of attorney to
sell your home and everything
in it while you are deployed.
A power of attorney has the
potential to be a very dangerous document. It is important
to remember that you are going
to be legally liable for anything
that your attorney-in-fact does
in your name. Therefore, you
should be very careful when
deciding who to name in your
power of attorney.
There is no way to guarantee
that your power of attorney will
not be misused. However, there
are some steps you can take to
protect yourself. You should not
get a power of attorney unless
you absolutely need one. If you
feel you might need a power
of attorney in the future, have
one prepared but do not sign it
until you need it. Try to avoid
using a power of attorney. If you
can get by with a special power
of attorney, use one instead of
granting all the powers under a
general power of attorney. In addition, you should always put an
expiration date on your power of
attorney and make sure that the
expiration date is for a relatively
short period of time. Finally, if
you want to cancel a power of
attorney before it expires you can
prepare a Revocation of Power of
Attorney. This will terminate the
powers given in any power of attorney. Give a copy of the revoca-
tion to any person or business
who might deal with the person
to whom you gave your power
of attorney. If it is possible, the
safest and most effective way to
cancel a power of attorney is to
collect the original and all copies
from your attorney-in-fact.
The 34th Infantry Division
Legal Assistance Office recently
relocated to the Staff Annex outside D-MAIN. When you enter
the Staff Annex, the Legal Assistance trailer is the second trailer
to the left. We are open from 8
a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturdays, and by appointment only
on Sundays. The office is closed
from noon – 1:30 p.m. daily.
Walk-ins are welcome. To make
an appointment call 858–4098.
For more information on powers of attorney, help with preparing a power of attorney or a
revocation of a power of attorney,
or notarizing these documents,
stop in and see us in the legal
assistance office. We are ready,
willing and able to help you in
these matters.
For more of Jag’s comments, visit:
www.TheRedBulls.org/TheGavel
The Red Bull Report
S
U
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O
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For puzzle solutions visit: www.TheRedBulls.org/puzzlesolutions
July 7, 2009 Page 6
The Red Bull Report
World News:
July 7, 2009  Page 7
Around the world in 34 seconds
WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden signaled the Obama administration would not stand in the way if Israel chose to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, even as the top U.S. military officer said any attack would be destabilizing. Biden’s remarks suggested
a tougher stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Administration officials insisted his remarks July 5 reflected the U.S. view that
Israel has a right to defend itself and make its own decisions on national security. Biden said the offer to negotiate with Tehran
on its nuclear program still stands.
U.S. News:
WASHINGTON - American attitudes have changed and the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy toward gays serving in the military
should be reviewed, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Colin Powell said July 5. President Barack Obama favors overturning
the policy, which bars gay troops from serving openly in the military. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked military lawyers
to look at ways to make the law more flexible, hailed by gay rights groups as a “seismic political shift”. “The policy and the law
that came about in 1993, I think, was correct for the time,” Powell said. “Sixteen years have now gone by, and I think a lot has
changed with respect to attitudes within our country.” Current Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen said the military
will continue to carry out the policy until it is changed.
Sports News:
WIMBLEDON, England - Roger Federer was playing for history. Andy Roddick was playing the match of his life. On and on
they dueled, Federer trying for a record-breaking major championship, Roddick striving for his second, in a Wimbledon final that
required more games than any Grand Slam title match in history. They were each other’s equal for four full sets and nearly the
entire 30-game fifth set. Federer finally edged ahead, breaking Roddick’s serve for the only time in the 77th and last game to close
out a 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 victory July 5. The epic match gave Federer his sixth Wimbledon title and 15th Grand Slam, one
more than Pete Sampras, who flew in from California to be on hand. “He’s a legend,” Sampras said. “Now he’s an icon.”
Odd News:
ELGIN, Illinois - Police in suburban Chicago say a taxi driver disarmed a knife-wielding passenger with a can of aerosol deodorant. Elgin Deputy Police Chief Jeff Swoboda says the 51-year-old cabbie picked up the male passenger outside a casino early July
2. Swoboda said the driver grew suspicious when the man offered several destinations, so he placed the small can of deodorant
between his legs. Shortly afterward, the passenger put a knife to the driver’s neck and demanded money. The cabbie sprayed the
deodorant in the man’s eyes, causing him to drop the knife. Swoboda says the man punched the driver before fleeing, but didn’t
seriously injure him. Swoboda declined to identify the driver.