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Subscribe to RSSKABUL, Afghanistan -- A number of Afghan national army soldiers have been arrested inside the country’s defense ministry over a foiled suicide bomb plot, officials told NBC News.
The soldiers were held on Monday afternoon along with 11 suicide bomb vests in a guard box in the building in the capital, Kabul, army officials said on Tuesday.
Afghan news web site Khaama also reported the arrests, saying the incident raises fresh concerns over infiltration of militants among the country’s Afghan security forces.
There were no further details immediately available.
Tim Marshall, foreign editor of UK channel Sky News, said that the incident was serious, and showed that the Taliban are determined to chase NATO out of the country.
"The fact that these arrests took place within the walls of the defense ministry illustrates the level of insurgent penetration within the Afghanistan establishment and just tells you -- gives a signal of -- what is likely to happen when NATO leaves," he said.
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The arrests came on the same day that at least three NATO service members were shot dead by Afghan security forces in two separate attacks.
March 12: The killing of 16 civilians by an American soldier has further enflamed tensions in Afghanistan. ITN’s Martin Geissler reports from Afghanistan.
A gunman wearing an Afghan army uniform killed two NATO troops in southern Afghanistan, while another was shot in eastern Afghanistan by an alleged member of the Afghan Local Police.
The attacks brought to 16 the number of NATO-led forces killed so far this year in what appeared to be attacks by members of Afghan forces.
Meanwhile, support for the war in Afghanistan has dropped sharply among both Republicans and Democrats, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll published Tuesday.
The survey found that more than two-thirds of those polled — 69 percent — thought that the United States should not be at war in Afghanistan, the New York Times reported.
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Just four months ago, 53 percent said that Americans should no longer be fighting in the conflict, it said.
It added that the increased disillusionment was even more pronounced when respondents were asked their impressions of how the war was going. The poll found that 68 percent thought the fighting was going “somewhat badly” or “very badly,” compared with 42 percent who had those impressions in November.
The poll was conducted by telephone from March 21 to 25 with 986 adults nationwide.
Akbar Shinwari, NBC News in Kabul, and msnbc.com staff also contributed to this report.
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OBVIOUS their evil plans are widespread within. How else would you get all that in there? MANY, and some TOP LEVEL must be involved.
I definately agree with Ron Paul's position(s) on foreign affairs. He might not be the Rudolph Valentino of political media eye candy, but, the guy makes sense. But, we'll vote in Mitt Romney who'll want to keep us there forever and get 30% of the action.
When you kill 16 civilians its hard to win the hearts and minds of anyone. That set back the relationship building to the begining.
You could very well be right. But, at $50k a head, most Afghans would gladly give up their mother-in-laws and half their wives. Did we set a precedent I wonder ? I doubt the relationship was very good to begin with.
Not just out, we need to unrecognize Afghanistan as a sovereign country, not recognize their passport as legitimate, not let them enter the country, stop renewing visas, stop giving them BILLIONS of dollars and let them fight it out amongst themselves. The moment we leave there will be a coup and they will get trashed just like Iran, cut them off, they aren't worth it.
And, the Taliban will go back to eradicating the poppy fields and killing Karzai's drug runners just like they were doing before. I can see it. Good post.
time to get out,now that the true colors of Karzais govt. have come to light, stop all money and get the hell out of that sess pool of a country of stone age people.
Right before I entered the Marines back in 1971, I joined a march that ended in front of the US Steel building in Pittsburgh. It was about ending the war in Vietnam. Honestly at 17 I didnt really care about ending the war, I cared more about meeting hot hippie chicks.
I have grown up since then, and of course I am a lot older. There are plenty of similarities between vietnam and afghanistan. But the primary reason we will never "win" this war is the one main thing todays war has in common with yesterdays war. We do not have the support of the people living there. In fact a large portion of them cant be trusted, and actively support the taliban or turn a blind eye to them.
That you dont know who is going to turn around and shoot at you is a similar dynamic we had in vietnam. That was a main reason we lost in nam and the primary reason we have lost in afghanistan. Whats worse is that we have the support of their government only when it suits their agenda.
There is nothing more to do there. You cant pacify the country or drag it into accepting a centralized system of government. The warlords have rules for centuries, and thats not coming to an end anytime soon.
Time to go home and hope that afghanistan and pakistan burn each other to the ground.
Major- I couldnt possibly agree with you more. I joined in 1967, and ended up in 'Nam '68-69, and re-up'd just before i DEROS'd for the tax-free bonus and a 3-yr tour in Germany. This whole Afghan thing is even worse than Vietnam. The only difference is, the guys returning aren't getting dried dog fesces thrown at them at SFO. It's like dejavu. It's ok for a man to make a mistake, so long as he doesnt make the same mistake twice. That doesn't seem to apply to our government tho does it. But then, who listens to us vets anymore ? We can't shove Democracy down everyone's throats. Not when religion stands in the way and corruptions stands beside it.
p.s. I wanted a tour in Germany immediately after because I couldn't deal with all the hatred and decent here. Yet, that war went on for another 5 years. How stupid does it get ? It's just incredible that the people in this country still have no control or say. (even tho it was over basically in 1973, we still weren't out til 30 April 1975. What a travesty. 52,000+ on the Wall. For what ?)
Almost 58,000
Perry..For what??? The military contractors! Money,Money,Money. America has NEVER been threatened by any country since WWII. The closest we even came was the Cuban missle crisis and we never lost 1 man.
Major Gen. Tony Zinni former CIA head of intell.He lais it out for Bush and got fired. He told them they need 500,000 troops to secure the perimeter of Iraq. Bush still still acted unilaterally. Then he divides his troops when they had Bin Laden in Tora Bora.
Gen. Zinni was a young Marine LT. during TET in RVN.He saw this comming. We all did. Hearts and minds B.S. You don't try pacification as occupiers.Surge, another name for Mission Creep.
Get out ASAP becuase it's FUBAR!
Polls dont matter to the powers that be. Contact your state rep, your senetors and congressmen. Tell them that you want the troops home. THAT is the only way anyone will listen to us! We must all come together on this thing, or its just writing in a thread! I wrote to everyone i could. All must do the same if you really want our troops home!
I'm voting for whomever isn't already holding office. Fire them all I say. The new crew couldn't possibly be any worse.
Obama failed to give the generals the troops they asked for and the ones there are operating under ridiculous rules of engagement. Now when he has them bug out the Taliban will take over and Al-Qaida operatives will come streaming back into the country. From there they will reestablish training camps and prepare attack plans. Not to mention continuation of their efforts to topple Pakistan and gain control of her nukes, delivery systems and means to produce more.
Mr. Obama's "war of necessity" is rapidly deteriorating into a huge failure. Our troops can get the job done if he would only let them
At the same time, he is hoping to be returned for four more years so he can give Putin what he wants (take down the missile defense shield) and watch Iran build nuclear weapons. All while he simultaneously weakens our own defenses and runs up unprecedented national debt via record setting deficit spending.
I guess you didn't read the comments posted above comparing Afghanistan to Viet Nam. We are not fighting a specific country in this war; it's a war against terrorism which is a cause. It's a cause perpetuated by the effect of the US being involved in other countries affairs under the guise of democracy, which we don't even have in the US.
King Kong, you don't know what the hell you're talking about.you just have to get a word in about O'Barma,what makes him scare you so? Don't answer me, not unless you can match my combat tours.there nothing political about these wars. If you want to play the name game I suggest you look up what POTUS acted unilaterally against Iraq when the mission was Afganisan.
Also, which VPOTUS has profitted from them. Does the names Halliburton and Bechtal ring your mind, doubt it.
The vests were just in preparation for the latest issue of Afghan GQ. It's what everyone will be wearing next fall!
Mr. Obama's "war of necessity"? That's the funniest thing I've heard all day. It shows you how American's forget everything after just a few years. NEVER forget the legacy of GW BUSH! It's better to appear stupid than to open up your mouth and show that you have no short term memory retention...
Insurgents, my ass! These are the radical Islamists we have been fighting all along, and they are the people who are supposed to be helping us rid Afghanistan of this sort of plague. It is well past time to pull US troops out and use whatever means necessary to eradicate the terrorists first, then the opium crop and the growers.
Mathuin - Agent orange over every poppy field in that country should be our farewell gift to them.
...or, we could melt everything.
Let's just get the "F" out. Let them kill each other. Take out Karzi on the way out. And, burn the poppy fields too. And, U can't tell me that Karzi didnt know about the suicide vests, u kidding me. 'nuff said.
Obama tasks NASA to make muslims feel better about their contributions to society ie; the suicide vest.
allah to yousef "OK. I'm only going to show you once how this thing works."
I wish we could fit the whole damn country of Afghanistan with a suicide vest on our way the hell out of there.
Just pull out and let them know that if the Taliban take back over that will be the end of them all. NUC TIME.
If they found 11, keep looking that is probably just the tip of the iceberg!
March Madness : Bales - 17 Afghan security - 16
Just like Vietnam, it's time to say bye-bye! The French were in Vietnam before us...we didn't learn. The Russians were in Afghanistan before us...we didn't learn.
We learn but our corrupt government run by big money doesn't.
I'll never forget this avowal...
Mon...Henry was right. The government doesn't give a dam about the men dying for NOTHING. I feel sorry for the stupid people that enlist but it is their choice to believe the crap they are brainwashed with.
Mom Grandma, pray there's no Diem Bien Phu.
HEEEEY, ... how about, lets jus send'um some of our" SURPLUS" (the ones who run our @!$%#ry) Polititions, Senators, Congressmen, Judges and the Supreme POWERS Court Judges and THEY will SURELY SHOW'UM how we Mericanos been doin it fer 50-60 years or so.
Yah wanna talk about "horn-swaggled & Quag-mires" ? We here in Meximerica gottz thaa "Corner" on this MARKET, for a Longggggg time now 2. L Paneettaah n'thaa rest of the DOD, n'Czars are workin on it tho, >>> REST assured, thaa it will be oky-dokey soon.
The bleeding heart LIBERAL Media scream, headlines..any effort to dis the troops..Day after Day we hear about Bales...but..it's usually only one day...OR LESS...when the Afgans or Pakistan troops execute an American...no OUTRAGE there.. We need to GET OUT..with the understanding that if the Taliban (and that includes their leader, Karzi) attacks any...ANY Us troop, citizen, property..they will suffer dire consequences....and hopefully we will have some Leaders who have the BALLS to carry out the threat.. Lately we have become "World Wimps"
Skip...It's all about money and nothing else. We have the most corrupt government in the world, we are #1. Look at our politicans.
Our whole invasion policy has been sick for the past 11 years. The military for the past 11 years should have never left the United States soil. These wars are bankrupting us both financially and morally but what can we expect with Wall Street and the banks owning the government. The entire government is a fraud!
Welcome to Afghanistan you infidels. We will pretend to work with you and then we will blow you up. We hate you but want your money and resources. Please leave our corrupt drug addled president alone. He just wants what's best for himself and his cronies. He thinks you are all fools. Have a good day.
When you have 11 people within the Afghan military/government willing to blow themselves up you mine as well just pack it up and get out. These animals have no clue on how to even try to be civilized and the majority of people they are killing are their own civilian population!! They have been doing this for thousands of years and will continue. We just need to get out of this sh*t hole and let these pigs eat themselves up. If they try anything against us again just nuke the country into oblivion!
PocketClam......Our own government is no better,my friend. We just don't use the suicide vest.
Wait til the REAL story comes out about this before jumping to conclusions; hopefully the press will actually cover it and actually CHECK their sources..
But gee, our fearless leaders keep telling us how well things are going in Afghanistan. What a joke.
It's way past time to leave. Now make plans to pull the troops out this summer, don't be foolish and wait till 2014. There is a good opportunity to get out now, take it.