If you’re looking for pieces on Jack Idema and his team, please click on this link.

While many Americans stayed at home with the tantalizing aroma of home-made pies, turkey and fixings wafting through the air, or some families went out to be with family for Thanksgiving, the boys at Pulacharke remain prisoners in the most infamous prison in the world. On top of that, the American government continues to taunt them.

Thanksgiving for Jack Idema, Captain Bennett, Lt Banderas, and Journalist Carabello went like this: Ten US Special Operations Soldiers were threatened by the Dept of State with Article 15’s (low level court martials) if they brought Turkey to Pulacharke Prison on Thanksgiving.

Previously, reports were coming in that the America Red Cross were delivering water to the Taliban and Al Qaeda prisoners at Pulacharke, but were denying it to the American prisoners–Jack Idema, Brent Bennett and Ed Caraballo.

Yesterday, US Consul Addie Harchick visted them, refused them mail, and then tried to drive away with the water the Marines sent them, until an Afghan General had his bodyguards block the Embassy car and force them to deliver the water. One of the State Dept Security officers told the story at bar last night, and it made the boys sitting there listening f***ing sick. We treated Nazi POWs better than this.

Without water, they will be forced to drink local water which contains microorganisms and bacteria fatal to American citizens and forces in Central West Asia. Although ciprofloxacin can be administered to combat the severe dysentery, vomiting, and eventually death* that will occur as the result of the denial of drinking water, two problems make this solution untenable. First, ciprofloxacin is not readily available, the US Embassy has already refused to supply drugs to them, and the FBI confiscated the medical and surgical kits they possessed to avoid any link to the United States government.** Second, because Idema has operated in Afghanistan for more than three years, he has already used ciprofloxacin extensively and is not a suitable candidate for continued long-term use. The same situation would apply to Bennett and Caraballo if they were to be forced into long-term use of ciprofloxacin. Therefore, the denial of water is not only completely retaliatory and nefarious, but brutally vindictive and unwarranted.

It is no wonder that many operators on the ground are saying they love their country but hate their government, particularly Condoleeza Rice. She should not only be aware of this situation but should be doing something to put a stop to this kind of reprehensible behavior IMMEDIATELY.

These boys celebrated Thanksgiving–but with chickens brought to them by the Afghan Generals.

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The US government, specifically Lieutenant General David Barno, stated that he could care less if Idema, Caraballo and Bennett were killed in order to “end the problem” with them. LTG Barno was quoted as stating the murders of the Americans at Pulacharke would “be a good thing.”

*The US government has already made it clear that they would like to see each of the Americans at Pulcharke dead. See previous footnote.

**The medical kits contained extensive US government issued surgical equipment and narcotics, such as Atchkinson Chest Valves, Quick Clot, Staple Guns & Suture Kits, and extensive antibiotics.

tip o’ me tam to sfops2kabul

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Contact the US Embassy in Kabul and voice your outrage:

Welcome to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy Kabul. If you are based in the U.S., the Overseas Citizen Services hotline is 1-888-407-4747. Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may reach the hotline by calling 1-317-472-2328. Your messages should be directed to US Consul Addie Harchick. I tried sending an email and it came back to me undeliverable.

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