Request JSOC documentation on Training of Australian SAS #4 Squadron
Tracking # |
2014-195 |
Submitted | Aug. 13, 2014 |
Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Jeffrey Kaye
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
I request all documents related to the training of Australia's Special Air Service (SAS) No. 4 Squadron (SAS4) by any unit or personnel of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in matters concerning interrogation, or other intelligence gathering techniques. This training may have taken place on Australian soil (e.g. Swan Island), or elsewhere (e.g. Africa or the United States). Requested documentation includes emails, calendar invites, notebook entries, minutes, letters, memorandums, policy documents, briefs, presentations (such as Powerpoint), reports, messages, training manuals, recordings, videos, etc.
The training may have taken place or been coordinated with any of the following Australian defense components: Air Force, Army, Office of Secretary and Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Headquarters Joint Operations, Defence Support and reform group, Intelligence and Security, and Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), in addition to or in coordination with SAS.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. News stories about the how U.S. Special Forces work and what kind of operations they conduct are truly so numerous it would be superfluous to mention them. Such widespread reporting or such operations shows that further information about the work of Special Forces personnel, including their work with other countries' special operations forces, is highly valued by the public. Hence, the material in this FOIA request would be in the public's interest.
Of further relevance, there have been numerous press stories concerning the existence and operations of SAS4, including reference by major world press of some liaison with US Special Forces. For instance, please reference:
* Secret SAS squadron sent to spy in Africa, Sydney Morning Herald, March 13, 2012 (URL: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/secret-sas-squadron-sent-to-spy-in-africa-20120312-1uwjs.html)
* Camp Nama: British personnel reveal horrors of secret US base in Baghdad -
Detainees captured by SAS and SBS squads subjected to human-rights abuses at detention centre, say British witnesses, The Guardian, April 1, 2013 (URL: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/01/camp-nama-iraq-human-rights-abuses)
The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request be filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available, or by CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Kaye
From: Jeffrey Kaye
Hello,
Earlier today, this request was submitted. Please find below an amended version of the request, which specifies a time frame for the desired records.
Thank you so much for your help.
_______________________
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
I request all documents related to the training of Australia's Special Air Service (SAS) No. 4 Squadron (SAS4) by any unit or personnel of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in matters concerning interrogation, or other intelligence gathering techniques. This training may have taken place on Australian soil (e.g. Swan Island), or elsewhere (e.g. Africa or the United States). Requested documentation includes emails, calendar invites, notebook entries, minutes, letters, memorandums, policy documents, briefs, presentations (such as Powerpoint), reports, messages, training manuals, recordings, videos, etc.
I request the time period of this request extend from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2013.
The training may have taken place or been coordinated with any of the following Australian defense components: Air Force, Army, Office of Secretary and Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Headquarters Joint Operations, Defence Support and reform group, Intelligence and Security, and Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), in addition to or in coordination with SAS.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. News stories about the how U.S. Special Forces work and what kind of operations they conduct are truly so numerous it would be superfluous to mention them. Such widespread reporting or such operations shows that further information about the work of Special Forces personnel, including their work with other countries' special operations forces, is highly valued by the public. Hence, the material in this FOIA request would be in the public's interest.
Of further relevance, there have been numerous press stories concerning the existence and operations of SAS4, including reference by major world press of some liaison with US Special Forces. For instance, please reference:
* Secret SAS squadron sent to spy in Africa, Sydney Morning Herald, March 13, 2012 (URL: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/secret-sas-squadron-sent-to-spy-in-africa-20120312-1uwjs.html)
* Camp Nama: British personnel reveal horrors of secret US base in Baghdad -
Detainees captured by SAS and SBS squads subjected to human-rights abuses at detention centre, say British witnesses, The Guardian, April 1, 2013 (URL: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/01/camp-nama-iraq-human-rights-abuses)
The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request be filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available, or by CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Kaye
From: USSOCOM FOIA
Mr. Kaye,
Attached is an acknowledgement letter in response to the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request you submitted to U.S. Special Operations
Command (USSOCOM FOIA 2014-195).
Regards,
USSOCOM FOIA Team
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 13, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-195.
Thank you for your help.
From: USSOCOM FOIA
Mr. Kaye,
In regards to your FOIA request 2014-195, it is currently being processed; however, there are multiple requests ahead of yours in our queue. According to DoD Regulation 5400.7-R, all FOIA requests are processed in a first-in, first-out basis and/or based upon complexity, whether it involves sensitive records, voluminous records, extensive searches, consultation among DoD components or other agencies, and our administrative workload.
We appreciate your patience and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.
Regards,
USSOCOM FOIA Team
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 13, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-195.
Thank you for your help.
From: USSOCOM FOIA
Mr. Kaye,
In regards to your FOIA request 2014-195, it is currently being processed; however, there are multiple requests ahead of yours in our queue. According to DoD Regulation 5400.7-R, all FOIA requests are processed in a first-in, first-out basis and/or based upon complexity, whether it involves sensitive records, voluminous records, extensive searches, consultation among DoD components or other agencies, and our administrative workload.
We appreciate your patience and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.
Regards,
USSOCOM FOIA Team
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 13, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-195.
Thank you for your help.
From: USSOCOM FOIA
Mr. Kaye,
In regards to your FOIA request 2014-195, it is currently being processed; however, there are multiple requests ahead of yours in our queue. According to DoD Regulation 5400.7-R, all FOIA requests are processed in a first-in, first-out basis and/or based upon complexity, whether it involves sensitive records, voluminous records, extensive searches, consultation among DoD components or other agencies, and our administrative workload.
We appreciate your patience.
Regards,
USSOCOM FOIA Team
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 13, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-195.
Thank you for your help.
From: USSOCOM FOIA
Mr. Kaye,
In regards to your FOIA request 2014-195, it is currently being processed; however, there are multiple requests ahead of yours in our queue. According to DoD Regulation 5400.7-R, all FOIA requests are processed on a first-in, first-out basis and/or based upon complexity, whether it involves sensitive records, voluminous records, extensive searches, consultation among DoD components or other agencies, and our administrative workload.
We appreciate your patience.
Regards,
USSOCOM FOIA Team
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 13, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-195.
Thank you for your help.
From: USSOCOM FOIA
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 13, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-195.
V/R
Keith
Keith F. Komosinski
Chief, USSOCOM FOIA/PA/CL Division
7701 Tampa Point Blvd.
MacDill AFB, FL 33621
Phone: 813 826-3715/SSO 826-4228
DSN: 299-3715
keith.komosinski@socom.mil
"No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or get all the credit for doing it"
Andrew Carnegie
From: USSOCOM FOIA
Mr. Kaye,
In regards to your FOIA request 2014-195, it is currently being processed; however, there are multiple requests ahead of yours in our queue. According to DoD Regulation 5400.7-R, all FOIA requests are processed on a first-in, first-out basis and/or based upon complexity, whether it involves sensitive records, voluminous records, extensive searches, consultation among DoD components or other agencies, and our administrative workload.
We appreciate your patience.
Regards,
USSOCOM FOIA Team
From: USSOCOM FOIA
Mr. Kaye,
Good morning.
Attached is the response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted to U.S. Special Operations Command on August 13, 2014 (USSOCOM FOIA 2014-195).
Regards,
USSOCOM FOIA Team
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