Congressman Visits U.S. Mount Whitney for Intelligence Briefing

By Cpl. Andrew W. Miller

USS Mount Whitney's commanding officer, Capt. David W. Prothero presents a signed photo to Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., during his visit. (USMC Photo by Andrew W. Miller)

USS MOUNT WHITNEY - Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., met with Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Deputy Commander, Rear Adm. Donald K. Bullard and other staff members today at the CJTF-HOA headquarters here in the Gulf of Aden.

Rep. Gibbons, currently on a 10-day trip in Africa visiting Zambia, Kenya and Djibouti, was accompanied on the visit to USS Mount Whitney by Mr. Donald Yamamoto, U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti.

The Congressman's stated goal for the regional tour is to gauge the effectiveness of the war on terrorism in parts of the Horn of Africa. He is also gaining insight into potential funding requirements for ongoing U.S. and Coalition efforts in support of the Global War on Terrorism within the region.

Rep. Gibbons, Vice Chairman of the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism, was briefed on the status of CJTF-HOA operations and engaged in discussions focused on intelligence matters, principally collection efforts and sharing of intelligence with Coalition partners in the region.

A former combat pilot and decorated veteran of both the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars, Gibbons has previously stated, "We will fight terrorism wherever it lurks. No corner of the world will be safe for those who want to attack freedom, destroy liberty and instill fear. Our fight will not be won quickly or easily, however, it will be won."

Rep. Gibbons arrives on the USS Mount Whitney to visit with members of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. (USMC Photo by Andrew W. Miller)

The only lawmaker on the trip, Rep. Gibbons also met with Nevada constituents from several branches of the armed services engaged in the war on terrorism with CJTF-HOA. Gibbons thanked the members for their dedication and sacrifice and offered support and encouragement on behalf of Nevada's 2nd Congressional District.

Congressman Gibbons, who will return to Washington on Jan. 19, is also the Chairman of the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counter-intelligence, and a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

The mission of CJTF-HOA is to detect, disrupt and defeat transnational terrorist groups in the Horn of Africa region. CJTF-HOA will also work closely with Coalition partners to establish conditions leading to long-term stability within the region, thus denying the opportunity for reemergence of terrorist networks.

The CJTF-HOA headquarters staff is comprised of approximately 400 members from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, civilian representatives and Coalition-partner personnel. Additionally, CJTF-HOA has nearly 900 personnel stationed ashore at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti and a small number of liaison personnel working in other parts of the region.

The CJTF headquarters was formed to oversee operations in the Horn of Africa region for U.S. Central Command, in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The headquarters arrived in the region Dec.12 after sailing from Morehead City, N.C. Nov. 14 aboard one of the U.S. Navy's most sophisticated command and control ships, USS Mount Whitney, home-ported in Norfolk, Va.