He was in Europe, Africa and Mexico, and ran operations aimed at discrediting or disrupting the Central Intelligence Agency, he said.
However, many of the war-weary sailors felt the operation would disrupt the peace process and prolong the war.
The operation disrupted the flow of weapons and troops to Syria.
The operation also entailed taking a huge swathe of land permanently to allow repairs and maintenance to take place and would disrupt farming much more than pylons would.
The operation significantly disrupted insurgent activities in the area.
Combined with amphibious landings at Bodo and Narvik, these operations badly disrupted the entire Norwegian coast.
Car bombings dropped off for a while after the siege of Falluja in November, possibly because the operation disrupted the insurgents' ability to make bombs.
The police said three of those arrested had been jailed for membership in the group, adding that the operation seriously disrupted its logistical and propaganda branches.
Since learning of Newmont's plans last fall, prominent researchers have joined with local residents to oppose them, saying the operation would disrupt animal life, cause pollution and threaten water supplies.