Jack Gruber

SPECOPS

2/23/04 -- SPECIAL FORCES A-TEAM -- ORUZGAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN -- A district tribal official with keys to a locked bunker watches passively as ANA soldiers discover what was described as "Just some bullets" by the Oruzgan district tribal chief in locked bunkers below the compound are actually bunkers containing nearly ten tons of weapons and munitions. 3rd Group Special Forces A-Team and officers of the Afghan National Army, 1ST Company of the First Battalion, Third Brigade spent an entire day and night applying "Afghan Diplomacy" by drinking many glasses of tea and finally asking what is behind the locked doors in the bunkers below. Oruzgan District Chief Ubai Dullah's response was, "Nothing for soldiers.....just some bullets...." After initial inspection of the bunkers, nearly ten tons of mortars, rockets, land mines and ammunition was trucked away for disposal. Negotiations between the district chief and the A-Team came to brief but tense “stand off” as soldiers began to remove the weapons when the district chief called in armed militia. Between talks and calling in an U.S. Air Force B-1 Bomber to make low passes over the valley, matters were resolved with some ammunition allowed to stay in the hands of the district chief but all mortars and rockets had to be surrendered. (Photo by Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)

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2/23/04 -- SPECIAL FORCES A-TEAM -- ORUZGAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN -- A district tribal official with keys to a locked bunker watches passively as ANA soldiers discover what was described as "Just some bullets" by the Oruzgan district tribal chief in locked bunkers below the compound are actually bunkers containing nearly ten tons of weapons and munitions. 3rd Group Special Forces A-Team and officers of the Afghan National Army, 1ST Company of the First Battalion, Third Brigade spent an entire day and night applying "Afghan Diplomacy" by drinking many glasses of tea and finally asking what is behind the locked doors in the bunkers below. Oruzgan District Chief Ubai Dullah's response was, "Nothing for soldiers.....just some bullets...." After initial inspection of the bunkers, nearly ten tons of mortars, rockets, land mines and ammunition was trucked away for disposal. Negotiations between the district chief and the A-Team came to brief but tense “stand off” as soldiers began to remove the weapons when the district chief called in armed militia. Between talks and calling in an U.S. Air Force B-1 Bomber to make low passes over the valley, matters were resolved with some ammunition allowed to stay in the hands of the district chief but all mortars and rockets had to be surrendered. (Photo by Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)