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“TRIBUTE TO COMBINED JOINT INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE 435” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S5853 on Sept. 18, 2014.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO COMBINED JOINT INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE 435
Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the contributions of Combined Joint Interagency Task Force, CJIATF, 435. On October 1, 2014, CJIATF 435 will conclude a 5-year mission in Afghanistan to conduct U.S. law of armed conflict detainee operations while successfully training, advising, and assisting the Afghan National Army and Afghan justice sector to develop and improve the investigation, prosecution, and detention of insurgent and terror-
related threats.
CJIATF 435's team included Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force servicemembers, Department of Defense civilians, contractors, and coalition members. The team developed a strong collaborative relationship with highly capable partners in the Afghan National Army Military Police Guard Command, the National Directorate of Security, the Attorney General's Office, and the Supreme Court. They also partnered with U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Justice.
On September 18, 2009, CJIATF 435 was established originally as Joint Task Force 435, JTF 435, to assume command, control, oversight and responsibility for all U.S. detainee operations in Afghanistan and coordinate with other partners to promote the rule of law and use of biometrics in Afghanistan. Through its subordinate command, the Rule of Law Field Force-Afghanistan, CJIATF 435 partnered with the Office of the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan for Rule of Law and Law Enforcement. With the addition of combined and interagency partners, JTF 435 officially became CJIATF 435 on September 1, 2010.
CJIATF 435 justice advisors from the Rule of Law Field Force-
Afghanistan and the Joint Legal Center, trained, advised, and assisted Afghan prosecutors, judges, and investigators, which enabled the justice system to try over 7,000 cases with a 75 percent conviction rate, resulting in more than 3,000 insurgents held accountable for their crimes. The Joint Legal Center also responded to over 12,000 requests for information from Afghan courts. The National Directorate of Security Agents provided information for investigations to assist in convictions.
CJIATF 435 instituted the first of its kind Afghan Training Team program that provided opportunities for expert Afghan criminal investigators, forensic experts, and prosecutors to share their professional expertise with provincial investigators and prosecutors. The program trained more than 400 students in a multitude of Evidence Based Operations procedures.
The CJIATF 435 Intelligence Directorate, the Theater Intelligence Group, conducted more than 30,000 interviews and produced thousands of reports in support of Afghan investigation, prosecution, and detention operations. Outstanding intelligence collection consisting of over 30,000 interrogations generating more than 5,500 intelligence information reports, resulting in over 2,000 source directed requirements, made legal victories possible and contributed valuable information to the war fighting effort. The Theater Intelligence Group expertly partnered with Afghan law enforcement investigators to train and assist them in conducting interviews and investigations of complex terror organizations.
CJIATF 435 managed the theater biometrics database which enrolled thousands of individuals associated with the insurgency into the database and prevented them from entering coalition bases. The biometrics enabled watchlist was critical to force protection and led to the capture, targeting, and tactical questioning of hundreds of possible threats. These biometric enrollments also linked many insurgents to a host of crimes against the coalition and the Afghan people.
During the transition of detention operations to Afghan custody and control, CJIATF 435 ensured the Afghan Military Police Guard Command provided secure and humane care, custody, and control of over 3,500 detainees. CJIATF 435 provided hands-on training, mentorship, and oversight to facilitate the complete transfer of detainee operations to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, GIRoA. Their tireless efforts set the conditions of GIRoA's largest detention facility to conduct independent operations in full compliance with international standards of humane care and detainee treatment.
As CJIATF 435 approached the end of mission, it established a rule of law development team to continue mentoring the Afghan prosecutors, judges, investigators and military police in the investigation, prosecution, and detention of national security threats. Through the tireless efforts of the men and women of CJIATF 435, the Afghans are well poised to effectively operate the National Security Justice Center at Parwan which will protect the Afghan people and coalition forces while strengthening the rule of law in Afghanistan.
Commending the combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435 on a job well-done for supporting the Government of Afghanistan as it built self-sustaining detention capacity and rule of law institutions compliant with Afghan and international law, I ask that the Senate join me in acknowledging the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice of CJIATF 435 for promoting the values of democracy.
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