UPDATE ON KIDNAPPED AMCIT ALFRED GEISER

S E C R E T KABUL 002645 NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/IP/SCA, CA/OCS AND DS/TIA/ITA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2033 TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER AF SUBJECT: UPDATE ON KIDNAPPED AMCIT ALFRED GEISER Classified By: Acting DCM, Alan Yu for reasons 1.5 c, d. ¶1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: On 20 August 2008, AMCIT Alfred GEISER and local national (LN) and partner Abdul SHAKOR were abducted by armed gunman in the Deh-Pak Village in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. Over the past five weeks, RSO Personnel Recovery Center (PRCC) and LEGATT have coordinated efforts to locate GEISER through the assistance of U.S. Military, U.S. Coalition partners, and other U.S. government agencies. Recently, source reporting has provided positive information regarding the whereabouts of GEISER. DISCUSSION: ¶2. (S/NF) GEISER is an independent contractor, with affiliations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. GEISER has lived in Afghanistan for approximately eight years. Since the abduction, the RSO PRCC and LEGATT have been investigating the kidnapping and working to locate GEISER. The kidnappers have placed several phone calls to the family (through a third party negotiator) regarding their demands for GEISER,s release. After an initial demand for USD 10 million, the kidnappers have consistently asked for USD 1 million in exchange for GEISER. GEISER,s captors allowed him to place a direct phone call to his wife in the U.S., at which time GEISER said he wanted to be rescued. Recently, source reporting has provided positive information on where GEISER may be held, while additional intelligence has corroborated this as a location where GEISER and two (2) alleged kidnappers may be located. On 09/24, the Charge d, Affaires requested U.S. military support to advance ongoing recovery efforts, specifically through a formal request that USCENTCOM upgrade GEISER to a Person Of Interest. Later, USCENTCOM issued an Execution Order to support hostage recovery operations in Afghanistan and return GEISER to friendly control. ¶3. (S/NF) Currently, a task force in theater has been assigned the hostage recovery operation as a priority and is evaluating and developing actionable intelligence to support the operation. The RSO PRCC is communicating with the assigned task force and is managing the Embassy,s recovery efforts in conjuction with post LEGATT, CONS, PAO, and MED. Pst has prepared a reintegration team in preparation of GEISER,s successful recovery. ¶4. (SBU) Post will inform the Department of additional information via septel as developed. Kabul POC is Acting RSO Greg Sherman. DELL