This is the combined exported report from the CIDNE system used to consolidate and record events and actions in Afghanistan. Essentially it gives the play by play from an operational standpoint of the first 7 days of the DUSTWUN operation for all the elements involved. Most of it is mundane indicating which unit is going where and doing what. From the timeline of events it shows the Taliban rapidly capitalized on an American Soldier being dropped in their laps. After snatching him they used their intelligence networks within the local national community to keep Coalition Forces chasing their tails and chasing shadows while they quickly got him out of the area until they could plan out exactly what they were going to do with him.
With regards to the entries stating the Taliban wanted to trade Bergdahl back for 15 Taliban immediately that just doesn’t make sense to me as even the lowest level Taliban commander would realize the value of having an American Soldier captive to use for propaganda purposes and eventually trade for the biggest fishes in US custody.
This document does one thing though, it confirms and vindicates Bergdahl’s fellow soldiers in their long standing statements that it is a FACT that Bergdahl deserted his post and attempted to link up with the Taliban.
Below in the document I have included an explanation of acronyms, key terms, and other information that hopefully will allow you to understand more of the document.
UPDATE: 1012z GUARDRAIL REPORTS PICKED UP LLVI TRAFFIC AT GRID VB 6597 3366 THAT STATES (UIM INDICATES THAT AN AMERICAN SOLDIER IS TALKING AND IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO SPEAKS ENGLISH. INDICATES AMERICAN SOLDIER HAS CAMERA)
The above is the first communication intercepted that contained any information regarding Bergdahl. The fact that he had a camera matches with what his squad mates stated he left with among a few other items.
UPDATE: 1543z INTERCEPTED RADIO TRANSMISSION THAT THE TALIBAN HAD 3 X CIVILIANS AND 1 X U.S. SOLDIER CAPTURED
First intercepted transmission that Taliban had a US Soldier captured comes 5 ½ hours after first report of sighting. Important to note that it is not until he is reported captured that the different TOCs and elements started getting intel about locations where Bergdahl could be from local nationals, intercepts, etc.
UPDATE: 0610z LLVI TRAFFIC FROM REDRIDGE: freq 162.1 1- W ARE READY FOR THEM. 2- ALL THE NUMBERS ARE MESS IT. WE ARE WWAITING FOR THEM. 1- LOL THEY KNOW WHERE HE IS BUT THEY KEEP GOING TO WRONG AREA. 2- OK SET UP THE WORK FOR THEM. 1- YES WE HAVE A LOT OF IED ON THE ROAD. 2- GOD WILLING WE WILL DO IT. 1- WE WERE ATTACKING THE POST HE WAS SITTING TAKING EXPLETIVE HE HAD NO GUN WITH HIM. HE WAS TAKING EXPLETIVE, HE HAS NOT CLEANED HIS BUTT YET. 2- WHAT SHEAM FOR THEM. 1- I DONT THINK HE W 2-YES LOOK THEY HAVE ALL AMERICANS, ANA HELICOPTERS THE PLANES ARE LOOKING FOR HIM. 1- I THINK HE IS BIG SHOT THAT WHY THEY ARE LOOKING FOR HIM. 3-CAN YOU GUYS MAKE A VIDEO OF HIM AND ANNOUNCE IT ALL OVER AFGHANISTAN THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE AMERICANS. 1- WE ALREADY HAVE A VIDEO OF HIM.
This is the giveaway for me. As I mentioned, the Taliban KNOW we monitor their ICOM traffic and they often transmit in the clear (not using codes and code words) to use misdirection and information Ops to mask what they are actually doing. Reading the timeline, at the time of this intercept they have already been using their network to give a whole bunch of conflicting areas of possible Bergdahl locations to Coalition Forces. They are further muddying the waters and taunting CF with the whole “they know where he is but are going to the wrong place”. They knew that CF in the area would be in a mad scramble to find Bergdahl so they have put IEDs in all the roads leading to the areas of possible location they fed to CF.
What confirms for me that this is misdirection is the boasting claim that they were attacking the base and snatched him while he was taking a dump without a weapon. If a small outpost like COP (Combat Outpost) Mest were being attacked, no soldier on the COP would be in the shitter they would be fighting for their lives.
UPDATE: 1820z BLACKFOOT TOC REPORTS THE ANPCDR AT MEST OP RECEIVED AICOM CALL FROM TALIBAN STATING THAT THEY WANT TO TRADE 15 TALIBAN FOR THE AMERICAN. TALIBAN WILL CALL BACK IN 10 MINUTES. FREQ 156.288
UPDATE: 1933z STOWE 6 OF THE ETT REPORTS THAT SOLDIER MAY BE BEING HELD NEAR SHIN CHA VILLAGE WHERE A WHITE STATION WAGON WAS SEEN TRAVELING WITH 2 ANP TRUCKS. THE LISCENSE PLATE NUMBER IS 7534
More conflicting misdirection to keep our forces and ISR assets chasing their tails “DON’T LOOK OVER HERE!” I am surprised they didn’t call Cluny
UPDATE: 0708z GREONIMO 3 REPORTS HAV EJUST FINISHED WITH THE KLE WITH 2 X ELDERS FROM MEST AND THE MEST ANP COMMANDER.THE ELDERS WERE ASKED BY THE TALIBAN TO A TRADE BETWEEN THE U.S. AND TALIBAN. THE TALIBAN TREMS ARE 15 OF THEIR TALIBAN BROTHERS IN U.S. JAIL AND SOME MONEY IN EXCHANGE FOR PVT BERGDAHL. THE ELDERS ASSURED ME THAT PVT BERGDAHL IS ALIVE AND THAT HE IN NOT BEING HARMED.
THE ELDERS ARE GOING TO TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING WITH THEMSELVES TO DISCUSS HELPING US THIS AFTERNOON. THEY REQUESTED TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING WITH ME THE SAME TIME TOMORROW. THE MEST ANP COMMANDER IS ALSO WILLING TO HELP IN EVERY WAY HE CAN; EVEN TO THE EXTENT OF REQUESTING ASSESTS/MONEY FROM DAWLAT KHAN TO AID THE MEST ELDERS TO HAVE RESOURCES (CAR, FUEL, ARM TO DEFEND THEMSELVES) FACILITATING MEETING WITH THE TALIBAN. THE ELDERS ALSO ASSURE THAT THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO TAKE POSSESSION OF PVT BERGDAHL. THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL APPEAL TO THE TALIBAN BY SAYING THAT THEY ARE WHITE BEARDED MEN AS ELDERS. DURING OUR MEETING, THEY WANTED FOR ME TO TALK TO PVT BERGDAHL VIA ICOM TO ENSURE THAT HE IS DOING OKAY. TRIED TO GET COMMS WITH NO LUCK.
UPDATE: 0713z GERONIMO 3 REPORTS THE RG-31 HAS STRUCK AN IED AT GRID VB 655 457 NO INJURIES REPORTED ATT CURRENTLY SEEARCHING FOR SECONDARIES AND ALSO HAVE AN EXPLOSIVE DOG WITH THEM CHECKING OUT ARE. MOHAWK 6 IS ENROUTE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
As mentioned above, pulled commanders in for a KLE with supposed offer to give Bergdahl back and attacked the convoy with IEDs as it left. They would have wanted to keep CF on the hook for a fast resolution of the situation.
Key Acronyms and Terms Explained
DUSTWUN: Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown
Transitory casualty status assigned toUnited States servicememberswho cannot be located but have not been confirmed captured or dead. A servicemember can only stay in DUSTWUN status for ten days.
When a DUSTWUN is initiated an immediate Battle Drill takes place with the goal of inhibiting any further movement of the missing/captured personnel. EVERYTHING stops, all operations ceased and all resources immediately redirected to the DUSTWUN effort. Roadblocks and vehicle searches at all intersections and key roadways, observation posts set up to cover key terrain, all air and surveillance assets diverted to assist in locating, etc.
TOC: Tactical Operations Center
ETT: Embedded Training Team. 6-8 Man team embedded with Afghan Police or Army as mentors, trainers and advisors.
CAS: Close Air Support
OBJ: Objective
HLZ: Helicopter Landing Zone
NSTR: Nothing Significant to Report
LLVI: Low Level Voice Intercept. See this link for more info on LLVI Teams
MAMS: Military Aged Males
KLE: Key Leader Engagement, denotes linkup and discussion between US commanders and local village/tribal elders
ODA: Operational Detachment Alpha. US Army Special Forces (Green Berets) Team
Contact: In the Military the term means being engaged or engaging the enemy.
TIC: Troops In Contact, operational term to denote a unit/element is in contact with the enemy
ISR: Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. Refers to drones, satellites, etc.
Explanation of Call Signs Used:
Every unit has a call sign. Blackfoot, Geronimo, Apache, Mohawk, etc. Blackfoot is the call sign for Bergdahl’s unit.
In addition to the name, a number goes with the call sign to identify a specific position/person within the unit
6 – Commander
5 – Executive Officer
3 – Operations Officer
TOC – Tactical Operations Center