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Subscribe to RSSThree Marines were killed instantly, and the fourth was seriously wounded but the gunman escaped. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
Updated at 12:35 p.m. ET: KABUL, Afghanistan -- A man wearing an Afghan army uniform shot and killed three American Marines, the U.S. military command said Friday. Afghan officials said the victims were American special operations forces troops.
Reuters reported that an Afghan police commander opened fire on the service members after inviting them to a meeting to discuss security. A U.S. military official confirmed the three deaths and said another service member had been injured during the incident.
NBC News' Jim Miklaszewski reported that a "lone gunman" remained on the loose and was being hunted. U.S. military officials said all of the American victims were Marines.
Citing Afghan officials, Reuters said the American special operations forces members were killed late Thursday while attending a meeting in the Sarwan Qala area, in what appeared to be a planned attack by rogue Afghan forces.
"The commander was Afghan National Police in charge of local police in Sangin," a senior Afghan official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Sangin is a district of Helmand province.
"It looks like he had drawn up a plan to kill them previously," the official added.
A military official told NBC News' Courtney Kube that it was unclear whether the gunman was a member of the Afghan security forces or whether he was just wearing a uniform.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi told The Associated Press by telephone that the attacker, whom he identified as a member of Helmand police named Asadullah, had been helping U.S. forces train Afghan local police troops. However, the Taliban has made false claims about the details of attacks in the past.
A U.S. military official says three American service members were killed and one was wounded after a gunman opened fire on them. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
The attack is the third killing this week of coalition soldiers by Afghans who are training to take over responsibility for security once most international forces leave in 2014.
So-called "green on blue" shootings, in which Afghan police or soldiers turn their guns on their Western mentors, have seriously eroded trust between the allies.
According to NATO, there have been 24 such attacks on foreign troops since January in which 28 people have been killed. Last year, there were 21 attacks in which 35 people were killed.
Senior Army leader slain
Earlier, the Pentagon confirmed that three U.S. service members -- including a senior Army leader -- and an American aid worker were killed Wednesday by a suicide bomber in Kunar province.
The victims included Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, the most senior enlisted soldier for the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Griffin, 45, of Riverton, Wyo., was a Bronze Star recipient who first enlisted in the Army in 1988.
Maj. Thomas E. Kennedy, 35, of West Point, N.Y., and Air Force Maj. Walter D. Gray, 38, of Conyers, Ga., were also killed. USAID foreign service officer Ragaei Abdelfattah was identified as the other victim.
On Tuesday, two gunmen wearing Afghan army uniforms killed a U.S. soldier and wounded two others in Paktia province in the east.
And on Thursday, two Afghan soldiers tried to gun down a group of NATO troops outside a military base in eastern Afghanistan. No international forces were killed, but one of the attackers was killed as NATO forces shot back.
NBC News' Courtney Kube, Jim Miklaszewski and Atia Abawi, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Ahmad Jamshid / AP
More than ten years after the beginning of the war, Afghanistan faces external pressure to reform as well as ongoing internal conflicts.
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From day One, it has just been a game on the part of the Afghans to TAKE as much as possible from non-muslims (the USA, etc.). They are as corrupt as you'll find anywhere, not interested in true nation-builing; just selfish greed to take what they can for themselves; no sense of their own community; no hope of ever getting better; just stealing what they can in aid and getting out with it to ubai, Canada or Australia. Their culture values win-lose, taking / buying ridiculously low, and selling high. Their culture is whatever they want it to be at every moment to let them get what they want. There have been no corruption convictions...due to corruption! They use western tolerance and generosity against the west and see it as a weakness. They have no tolerance for anyone different han they are... they have driven out dissenters, along with Hindus, Jews, Christians, etc. over past decades and truly believe in an islamic global government in the next 500 years through birth rates (highest outside Africa) and war. They believe in quantity of children, not quality (education, etc.). They know how to cry 'victim', but are not as even close to the suffering that post-war refugees in 1940s Europe or even parts of current Africa are going through. Our tax money has been wasted over there...I have been there a dozen times, including extended stays as a civilian businessman. If you don't agree, please spend at least one year living and working with civilians there and then we can talk. Some who have come to the USA are truly arrogant about the superiority of their religion and 'culture' and have shown me that they will do their part to impose it here, in any ways, large and small, that they can.
Nice going Obama. Thanks for the surge in Afghanistan, that really worked.
Many (!) people were fooled by Obama and voted for him, unfortunately they are going to do it again.
Choice can be an illusion of freedom. Being given the choice between military/industrial complex candidate one and military/industrial complex candidate number two is hardly freedom.
A scourge has smothered America, WE ARE NOT FREE, it is an illusion.
Remember the bum's that got us there, Bush/Chaney and the Republican led congress. And you are right on the last part..why can't either party give us a real choice for presidential elections..and lets rid congress of its millionare, war loving, big spending scum bags on both sides.
It's all fine and dandy to remember the idiots who got us there but I thought the new guy was big into the "Change" thing....That is what he was voted in for and he's really done a bang up job with that, hasn't he...(yes I am using sarcasm)
I like that phrase, think it is a keeper.
But am going to improve it:
Choice can create the illusion of freedom...
:( ... The AFGHAN OFFICIALS should have KNOWN this and PROBABLY WERE FULLY AWARE OF IT ... They had to know ... THEY KNEW :( and our so called leaders ALLOW it and GIVE THEM MONEY ... You cannot help LIARS who as a nation see you as INFIDELS/Kufir??, only to be lied to, used and killed in the name of their man made religion ... "manmade religion makes the Word of God of NO EFFECT" The God of Love and Rescue and PEACE ... "JACOB (ISRAEL) I have LOVED (BECAUSE HE OBEYED THE TRUTH) ESAU I HAVE HATED" (BECAUSE HE REBELLED AGAINST THE TRUTH and misrepresent the God of MERCY and LOVE) ... PRAYING for safety WISDOM and DELIVERANCE for American soilders (who are not allowed to get the job done) and all who stand for Peace and Truth~ selah ... and Praying for ALL LIES/TERROR to be EXPOSED~ selah Thank you American Soilders ... and all soilders who lay their lives down for ALL and for Peace ... Jesus said there is no GREATER LOVE than to lay down ones life for a friend <3 Wake up Esau before it is too late for you selah
Republicans and Democrats two sides of the same hand, American citizens don't have control of America anymore it is now controlled by industrialized elitist that only care about profit not who lives or dies. The US goes on with it's own agenda and keeps it's people well divided and conquered. The USA is burning while the career politicians serve their special interest masters,it doesn't matter who gets in as long as big money decides both parties, I'm going to keep voting every incumbent out and for as many independents as I can. If everyone did that it wouldn't change the government in one election but it would sure shake them up to realize that if they do not start serving the people over big money contributions they will be finding temporary employment.The only thing that is going to save the country is putting the pressure on government to serve the people rather then self interests. The major problem is that we really don't hold all of our leaders accountable. We let them toss the hot potato of blame back and forth blaming each other. The truth is that they are all responsible for making excuses rather then solving problems while serving their own self interests then the country that they have sworn an oath to protect. We seem to have either totally incompetent people in power, totally corrupt people or both from what I can see of the direction that this world is heading.Unfortunately the rest of the country will keep putting the sold out traitors back in office until we become another third world country with only the rich overlords and the poor slave class .One election won't change much but if the people stand together and start voting these traitors out of office it will send them the message that we the people are mad as hell and not going to let them buy and sell our country anymore either way we as a people will get the government that we deserve.
Mark..I wish I had said that.
More is riding on how we vote robertlevy then what we say because government is only listening to the voice of money not the voice of it's people. But thanks for the compliment I just hope that this country can wake up before it's too late.
These killings just keep happening and will continue to happen. But we stay there because this war does not touch us here in America unless you happen to have a loved one carrying this unwinable fight. If Americans at home felt the pain, this adventure in Afghanistan would be over in short order. But we are on this side of the world, getting fat and watching reality TV while the Commander in Chief mugs for the media day in and day out. No wonder the Taliban know they can win against such a shallow, amusement addicted, self- absorbed enemy.
Seriously get the hell out, now!
This Vet sez' : "Get us out of that sh-t hole and let them kill each other and rot. No more of these stupid wars where we go in and try to show them how to live in peace.. they don't want it and they don't get it.
Follow the money isn't this whats capitalism is all about making as much money as you can anyway you can. Obama was right the US is not a Christian nation it is a greedy nation, one nation under money for money with liberty and justice for those who can make the most any way they can. Money bless America the best government that money can buy, now go to the polls and vote them money makers back in until we become another third world country with only the rich overlords and the poor slave class .
Mark..I just wish someone was running that deserves my vote! They ALL smell the same.
That's why I'm going to keep voting every incumbent out and for as many independents as I can. If everyone did that it wouldn't change the government in one election but it would sure shake them up to realize that if they do not start serving the people over big money contributions they will be finding temporary employment.
Mark..Sounds like a fairly good idea. Guess I lost all my faith in our (democratic) system of government because it isn't democratic at all , instead it has become a dictatorship of the rich and cooporate America, with the backing of a corrupt supreme court. I grew up in the 50's and the country is not even remotely the same. It makes me very sad to see what I now see. There is no honesty or integrety at all with the politicans, from the top down.
You can only serve one of two masters love or hate, we now have the technology for destruction like never before as mankind struggles between its two masters. Whether prophecy is being fulfilled or not I do not know all I do know is that the world seems to be coming to crossroad and only time will tell were we go from here.
In the beginning there was the search and destroy mission for bin Laden; That could have been ended in a couple of weeks.
Shortly after there was the care of the civilians who had lived under years of Taliban Atrocities; That we partially achieved but should have ended long ago.
Everything since then has been a waste of time, money and (worst of all) the blood of our children.
...
This is just right wing propaganda.
Just recently Hillary Clinton declared Afghanistan an American ally.
Now the right is trying to make her look bad.
...
How about a moment for the 3 green beanies that just lost there lives. After all that's what this story is about.
May they RIP
Good post! I agree. A lot of people feel this is a good time to blast the politicians. We should all be thanking the troops for the job they're doing instead of voicing our political agendas.
Thank you for your service and the sacrifices of you and your families.
The subtitle on the front page currently is:
The typical viewer of NBC will not dig deeper AND NBC IS COUNTING ON THIS.
To read that subtitle (which is also currently the first paragraph of the article) the reader will get the impression that a Taliban put on a stolen uniform. The second paragraph, which is deeper than most people go (AND NBC IS COUNTING ON THIS) tells us it was an Afghan Police Commander.
Why wasn't this the headline? Why?
With friends like the Afghans, who needs enemies?
Enemies can slip through anywhere, this has been proven time and time again. This murderer could possibly been paid or threatened by any terrorists groups, which yes, believe it or not still exist. For those of you that think our problems were over with the death of Osama bin Laden, you could not be more wrong. Terrorist activity is still alive and well. They have also begun recruiting American gang members and Columbian cartels to join their mission. Yes, they have infiltrated our homeland and for any of you who the war against these rebellious countries is unjustified, you had better think again.
Sharon..The enemy is us, not them but we don't recognize it. 9-11 wouldn't have happened if the United States would not have stuck their military nose all over the middle east, years ago. Remember, it was us that funded and helped OBL in Afganistan, against the Russians.
Being obama made a deal to keep troops in Afganistan untill 2024 we will be hearing more of these deaths for years to come. The obama admin. is lowering troop levels in preparation for an Iranian conflict that we can expect soon after the elections if not prior to it. RIP troops
Strange how our disabled Military Vets. can't even get the disability funds they need, many of which are near homeless, or homeless, yet the Fed. Gov. can spend billions on a rover playing in the sand on Mars. Figure that one out folks. Many Vets. wait years for help and only get a cold shoulder from the Gov. That's one reason I'm against useless space exploration. The space we need to focus on, is the space here on Earth. The ole saying, put the grease where it's needed most. Wake up America, stand up for our disabled Military Vets, and pull your heads out of outer space.
The space program is one of the few worthwhile programs our money actually goes on. Which is why I will never understand why small minded people attack it at every turn. There is a lot of money vanishing on other programs (schemes) that do not promote learning and intelligence in this country and our vets deserve that money. Increasing the human understanding of our world and universe will never be a waste of money as I still believe the more intelligent we are the less likely we will be loosing good men to useless wars and with luck less reality shows.
Sounds like you're a believer in Martians, with little respect to Veterans and their needs. Maybe you could be on the first manned mission to Mars, oh bring back some dead rocks when you return, no I take that back, just stay there, the Earth would be better off.
Thank you, Barak Obama. You too are a criminal. You have fraudulently STOLEN the office of the Presidency along with your cronines and lied to the American people. You and your muslem buddies can all go to hell. Why anyone would vote for a pro communist, pro socialist, pro muslem, pro queer is beyond ANY normal reasoning. Traitors.
freddy4life:
Doesn't take an investigation to prove the following:
Number 1: If we would have concentrated on Afghanistan and not detoured on some nebulous journey into Iraq from the beginning, we would have known this from the beginning, and everyone would have been home already. And, a major impediment to Iran would not have been erased. We made a major error. That was a major, ill advised excursion into a country that has now dinged us twice, and we haven't seen anything yet. Iraqi oil paying us back yet? Ha! What a bunch of BS and one of the reasons we're still losing brave Americans in Afghanistan. Go find those guilty of that mess (Iraq diversion) and hold them responsible.
Number 2: The way out is to simply give up Afganistan as some potential democratic nation, arm the hell out of the most loyal tribes that hate the Taliban and get our troops out. Let the tribes settle the dispute and give them control of the poppy fields. Make a worthwhile agreement with them to purchase the product for Morphine and other legal uses, as long as it is used for that purpose.
Number 3: Agent Orange or poison the @!$%# out of the poppy fields prior to leaving the country and get out. Hate to resort to that, but what the heck. Perhaps any illicit drugs grown from future crops will eliminate the harvesters and users of the product.
Number 4: Provide more aid to India so the Pakistanis have to focus more on their other border and take away some of the aid and shelter they are providing the Taliban in their land on the Afgan Border. If we arm the Afgan tribal groups, they will take care of the intrangence of the Pakistanis on their border.
Number 5: Quit trying to pass off blame on the current Administration. Study the history a bit, and make an informed opinion. Ha!
We got to get out of that place. No thanks to whatever political policy or concern for oil riches got us into it.
We need to get out of there and while they're at it burn all the poppy fields they can get to...We have no business being there!!! Let them kill each other off !!! Shogun,you are right on with your statement!!! Who gives a rat's behind about Mars!!
It's obvious they don't want us there anymore. No matter how long we stay, it won't get any better. Time to pull out and let them fend for themselves. We did all we could but with the power the Taliban has in that region, we will never change the way they live.
The reason they vote for this man is because there are now more people living off the tax payers with their welfare programs,etc...They are sucking the very life out of us..There are more people who have no integrity than the upstanding tax paying,working people..Obummer is a cancer in this country..And he is a liar and a crook with his friends that have unlawful history in their back grounds,and they are in high positions in his cabinet!! He makes me sick..I turn the tv over whenever he comes on..
Patriotic Girl...You canb say the same or more for George Bush and Romney isn't any better.
Patriotic Girl:
Some people simply switch channels or turn the tv off. Ha! You turn your's over? Wow. That's a pretty dramatic response.
All I can think of is the loss to be felt here at home by the families. Sad.
Macho Islamic violence is increasing with the opportunity for Arabs to get heavier weapons. Muslim men want Sharia Law and will attempt to bury those that interfere with the will of Allah and his Prophet. Giving Arab women the opportunity to become independent by earning their own income will curb Macho Islamism. Free higher education must be available and 75% of government jobs must go to women graduates. Female dominance in the Arab world will end Macho Islamism. Lazy Arab men will be deprived of sexual pleasure; they will then learn how to please women not the Prophet.
Da ya tink i can get me a job with yall, give me a gun and some faood an a youniform and i will go fight fer ya in that ther afgani, da ya tink
PRD...Try the boy scouts, they might could use you.
It is about time we begin killig everything in a hat or head rag! Stay in groups of known to U faces,anyhing-bodymakes moves toward that group--weapons up--challenge--no proper reply--end of story--or send Bush and obama over there to do the weapon work. Clusterf--k!
keith..It is about time we changed our thinking and stop killing people all over the planet like we have been doing for the past 65 years.That is a big reson why the mass shootings in America happens. We are a blood thirsty nation and it is comming home to roost. You need to forget the words ragheads, kikes, @!$%#s,whop,slants,gooks etc and start thinking of all people and races... as just people. There is good and bad in all.Take people as individuals and not clump them together.
I can not believe that there are people out there that still believe that these rabid animals can actually be domesticated. They are a malignant, carnivorous tumor consuming everthing around them including their own kind. It appears that they can walk upright when they want to but I doubt that they can ever be housebroken. Either get our people out now or let them kick some a$$!
You must be talking about our politicans, right?
Just another on going nightmare started by W. And still taking American lives. And if you elect MitWitt he will have us in a war with Iran in 6 months. America needs to stay the hell out of the middle east and start taking care of America for a change. Why the hell do we have to be the the worlds police force?
david:
The only way that will happen is if his own kids lead the way. Some of us will demand it. Then, maybe some will follow. Maybe. We're done with this crap.
You hit it right on about Mitt, David - We are the worlds police force because our country is controlled by corporate greed.....our government is bought and paid for by these same corporations and they both feed off of each other during and after major conflicts - War is money and our people are expendable as long as the money keeps rolling in.
That doesn't jube with you statment above about kicking ass.