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Subscribe to RSSThe shooting deaths of two American soldiers in Kabul by an Afghan colleague are under investigation, with Afghan officials are saying it was an accident. NBC's Atia Abawi reports.
An Afghan soldier shot and killed two American soldiers on Monday during a dispute in Laghman province in Afghanistan. The Afghan soldier was then shot and killed by U.S. forces.
"ISAF troops returned fire, killing the ANA (Afghan National Army) soldier who committed the attack,'' the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said in a statement.
A senior military official in Kabul strongly disputes an Afghan military account which claims the two Americans were killed accidentally when the Afghan tripped on his weapon, which discharged and struck the U.S. servicemen. “The Afghan account is tortured beyond belief and total bull****,” the official told NBC News.
The deaths in Laghman brought the number of foreign soldiers killed this month to 12, prompting NATO to increase security against insider attacks, including requiring soldiers to carry loaded weapons at all times on base.
The deaths also come a week after U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Martin Dempsey visited Kabul to talk about rogue shootings and urge Afghan officials to take tougher preventative action.
Taliban behead 17 civilians after 'late-night dance and music party'
There have been 33 insider attacks so far this year that have led to 42 coalition deaths. That is a sharp increase from 2011, when, during the whole year, 35 coalition troops were killed in such attacks, 24 of whom were American.
In all, 73 Americans have been killed by so-called “friendly forces” in the nearly 11-year war, with more than half occurring in the past eight months.
NBC's Richard Engel discusses the troop "surge" in Afghanistan – something touted as a success by the military, but questioned by many Afghans and also some in the U.S. who worry the troops will leave in 2014 with Afghanistan as a failed state.
Afghanistan's government said on Wednesday it would re-examine the files of 350,000 soldiers and police to help curb rogue shootings of NATO personnel, but accused "foreign spies" of instigating the attacks.
Afghan sources: Top Haqqani militant commander killed
The killings, many of which have been claimed by the Taliban as evidence of insurgent reach and infiltration, have eroded trust between the NATO-Afghan allies and are complicating plans for transition to Afghan security within two years.
NATO commanders have played down the threat of infiltration, blaming most of the shootings on stress or personal differences between Afghans and their Western advisers that ended at the point of a gun, a frequent occurrence in Afghanistan.
But the U.S. general leading NATO forces in Afghanistan acknowledged last Thursday that the Taliban could be traced to more insider attacks than previously acknowledged, accounting for about a quarter of the cases.
US deaths in Afghanistan hit 2,000 in 'forgotten' war
The Afghan government agreed after Dempsey's visit to improve the vetting of army and police recruits by requiring stronger guarantors, a more stringent test questionnaire and biometric data on all would-be and existing personnel.
More undercover intelligence officers would be recruited and placed in Afghan security forces to keep an eye on soldiers and police, while security force members with families in neighboring countries would be heavily scrutinized for possible relations or exposure to cross-border insurgents.
But President Hamid Karzai's spokesman also said the number of attacks was also relatively small given the presence of 120,000 foreign troops among 350,000 Afghan security forces.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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I am beginning to think that we would be better off stimulating internecine warfare in those parts of the world where the Al Qaeda are active. When they have finished each other off to the point where one side is dominant we would only have one enemy to contend with.
Obama and Romney do not care about a few dead solders both do not want to look weak in a war, heck during elections oh no way can we pull out.
This goes even beyond the two possible presidents it is the GOP and the DEM as far as leaders they might as well be the TALIBAN to the US troops serving over there.
Pakistan gets caught hiding Osama bin Laden and our elected leaders cut the money by 30mil we send them crazy I tell you.
People talk about a Revolution in the US Please don't you will fall short and you would not have any chance to do more damage than the DEMS and GOP are currently doing to this country. People would laugh at any attempt by any group who even tried.
The DEM's, GOP keep voting for their friends and masters in China now what would you call a group of people who do nothing while watching jobs go over sea's to China and do nothing about it.
US based Corporations are making more money in China than here who do you think decides who they should spend money and who's political campaigns should get it.
The big new plan is to move the Jobs from China and sprinkle them around China so to counter act the Monster they created. The brain trust we have in Washington wow!! They do not want to bring the Jobs here the GOP and Dem's feel your too expensive, sorry American's you cost too much.
Times like these I always wondered how it felt to be a Roman before it fell. So to our NERO's, Obama, Romney, GOP and DEM's we say.
Those Who Are About to Die Salute You.
Lets see how many americans must die before we see the futilety of it.The russians couldn't get anywhere there and got out,maybe were keeping them there because there are no jobs to come back to.
Exactly, the Russians had no qualms about collateral damage, no "rules of engagement", and they got their ass kicked. The US Military has not been in a major successful operation since the end of WWII. North Korea/China kicked our ass, Vietnam kicked our ass, now a bunch of lo-tech goat herders are kicking our ass. Our military "leaders" quit leading, and started kissing the politically correct ass way back. If you gonna fight, fight to win. Our so called professional soldiers don't have the will to win, the balls to get dirty. (Yes, on an individual level, some of them might be able to kick my ass, but I am 68 years old now). And yes, every admin has betrayed troops and country, but it still comes down to Military leaders not having the spine to stand up.
And the "War Machine" grinds on."People talk about a Revolution in the US Please don't you will fall short and you would not have any chance to do more damage than the DEMS and GOP are currently doing to this country. People would laugh at any attempt by any group who even tried." Hey One man- I don't think people were laughing a lot during the Civil War. And whats that ol saying,"united we stand,divided we fall". But you are right,both parties created this mess.
@Been There, President Obama did not ever say that he was going to get us out of Afghanistan! He said he was going to get us out of Iraq ( which he did ) and he was going to concentrate on Afghanistan instead, because that was where the focus should have always been Afghanistan and not Iraq!
Sooner or later all, or a large part of those 350,000 security forces will be given orders to clean house. What our politically and socially and diplomatic motivated Military commanders have done is left behind sheep for the slaughter. They just got around to having troops carry loaded weapons on base?? Incompetent fools.
Vietnam all over again james, cannot tell you of how they kept our weapons locked up even during red alerts and being put on guard duty without ammo
if you are 101st then thanks for your service
james-101st
Before the Grunts can go to work the Roaches need to be eradicated in Washington. There has been so many dark deals made behind the scenes, the liberal press has not been able to keep it all quiet up to and including the posible invasion of the continent by NATO troops.
Ask yourself how a Desopt who has committed treason would be able to remain in the highest office in the land? The answer is as a dictator gained through Martial law, but he underestimates the American citizens and the American Soldiers who would never come to terms to attack American Civilians. However, since he is likely not truly an American but a high placed transplant from Africa, he might try as is indicated after the "Open Mic" conversation with Putin was aired.
I know this is true because I read hisory as a barometer to the possible predictions of the political weather tomorrow. Barry has continually tried to weaken the economy, and recreate a racial divide that has healed since the 70s. Part of the problem with ignorant people is that Ignorance is Bliss. The real history of the Civil War is supressed and even rewritten. The African Country of Liberia was CREATED by Americans wanting to begin taking measures to return the Black Slaves and freemen to their native lands to a country they could call their own. Its flag is a duplicate of the Stars and stripes but with only one star. The year was 1820, 40 years before the war began. The war was not fought for slaves because the slavery issue was already being phased out for various reasons including Economics, political pressures from abroad and Industrial advances. But ignorant black racist continue to berate the Rednecks and Crackers. I am digressing because that is another discussion.
I saw the US work its way through many challenges and was even asked as a unit in the 101st to be trained at Ft. Benning, Urban warefare school to be prepared to go up against the citizens. This never happened, but we were trained just the same.
The thing that the politicians did not understand was that I was a patriot and would never go against the people under orders from the government. As any combat soldier knows there are two things more important than life, one is the guy standing next to you, and the other is the home we fight for. Home being hometown, family, and friends(Sort of a Mom and Apple pie kind of thing).
Many other people know of these plans are ever present due to the unpredictable nature of the world right now. During Vietnam as I was attending that school, the Communist, anarchist, and hippies were busy sucking face and getting high, so the world was a different place.
Today, the Anarchist and the Communist are still there but throw in a serious drug/gang culture and the insurgents from Mexico and South America where communism has been quietly gaining power for thirty years and a radical religion that out number any other religion in the world. The militant groups like the New Black Panthers are coming to the front. The Wolves are at the door and the sheep are selling them the keys to the kingdom.
Lazarus
It amazes and sickens me about the two faced crap going on in afhanistan - karzai wants American Warriors punished, idiot panetta wants our warriors punished, and a 4 star yoyo lets the killers of our warriors go free. Now, are we in there to win or let our great politicians and generals kiss karzi's butt to appease this taliban lover? It is time that we destroy that sorry afganistan and drive the hell out of there in planes, ships, on anything this will bring our great warriors home before some more get killed by the ragheads we are trying to train and whose country we are fighting for. BS - CARPET BOMB THAT HOLE AND SHOOT TO KILL FROM NOW ON. Our great men and women warriors are being slaughtered like cattle by a bunch of no good money grubbing ragheads that want everything but do not fight for their own country.
I am sick to know how many mothers and fathers are going to be grieving because their children return home in a flag drapped coffein because our politicians could care less. JUST DUMP ALL OF THEM - TOP TO BOTTOM IN THE STREET AND START FRESH WITH FRESH GOOD SOLID AMERICAN CITIZENS - NO MORE OF THE WORTHLESS TRASH WE HAVE IN DC NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
You Muslims out there and the liberals who do not mind mother's murdering unborn Children.
Perhaps you can assist me with a couple of questions.
What with all of the state sanctioned executions of "legitimate" sinners in governments around the world of Islam, where is the"Mercy" of Allah? Two weeks ago I saw where some Homosexual boys and men were being executed in the usual public forum that is intended to put the "Fear OF God" into the observers. The kids looked to be about 14 and were crying for mercy as they were being led off to die.
Also, I am curious about the Vaginal mutilations of the women and young girls. This seems very brutal and outdated as is most of the Muslim Religion since the practices date back to the 7th century. It seems brutal, but when you hear of the Mercy Killings perpetrated by the parents of young girls and boys, and the Stoning of married couples, and the Beheading of 20 consenting adults for listening to music and dancing, well that is brutality in the strictest definition. As much as I love talking about the brutality of Religion I need to move on.
How about the paractice of killing a married woman if she is raped because it was her duty to die rather than fornicate. But one of my favorites is where a young girl is raped and is forced to marry the Rapist, is your religion and society so ignorant as to not know that Rape is not about love, but of violence and brutality. The Victim is doomed to be with the man that brutalized her and stole her soul. Where is the outrage for the victims of this brutal, totally ignorant and stupid faith? I mean this with as much respect as the definitions of these words carry.
We live in th e 21st century where people have tried to leave the brutal witch burning and superstition behind. We are at an impass now since we will either need to convert to your barbaric culture or we will find it necessary to irradicate the threat your culture poses to a whole world. How do you think that will work out?
The truth of your culture is not that there are some Muslims that dislike the extremist, but the fact that the perceived "Good Muslims" are doing less than nothing to stop the radicals within your religion.
Where I grew up in the mountains of Tennessee many years ago, we had our share of ignorant people that sometime crossed a line or two. However, we would not call the Sheriff to muddle the facts around. We would HELP the ignorant people to learn from their mistakes and they would become good neighbors. The amount of HELP we provided was dependent on how bad the neighbor had been. Sometimes the poor things could not stand the pressure and would move away or their hearts would give out.
But even if that happened the relatives of the poor, misunderstood man would see a benefit to being a good neighbor and the world was a better place to live. There was no moral judgements involved or any religious pressures. People, just wanted to know that their neighbors would be good neighbors and not steal, cheat, lie, beat their wives or children and so on. A pedophile would not have been very comfortable. The concept of stoning was never considered because Jesus was the teacher and we knew how Jesus felt about that. The "Golden Rule" was the way to follow and as long as a person treated others with respect, he was allowed to be rude at time, after all no one is perfect. But when a bully was in the neighborhood, someone was sure to put some dents on his head.
The Islamic Religion needs to get an accounting of their people and decide if you wnt to try to bully this nation of Rebels that kicked Britans butt twice and saved the world from other despots and dictators, or do you want to be a good neighbor? If you want to be a good neighbor, then clean your own trash off the streets of world society. If you are affraid of your bully boys then say so and we might want to kick in to help like a good neighbor should. But to pretend that they are separate from you and you cannot understand why they act so badly, you take us for fools and we are NOT fools.
Lazarus
the muslim satan worshipper is on his way to hell where he belongs
If you want to change an entire culture, you have to assume complete control over the country and force assimilation. Half measures don't work. Since we aren't willing to do that, we have to leave and accept what results. It's what's going to happen anyway. All we are doing is putting our soldiers lives at risk for Obama's political future.
Everytime something like this happens, I burn a Quran.
What is wrong with our efforts in Afghanistan is we are too busy articulating for other people (in the Middle East) how they should live their life; whether they are enjoying human rights as they should and if not, how to fix them; help them to fix them, and trying to remove from power all autocrats in West Asia, who essentially have nothing to do with us, or want our help in the first place.
Instead of focusing on Afghanistan, where NATO-led forces are bleeding to death due to lack of firm, civilian decisions on rule of engagement, coordination on security operations and the safety of fighting men and women, we are wasting valuable resources chasing after bogeymen, and helping Islamic forces reclaim victories they lost in ancient times in the process.
We went after the so-called dictators because we consider them bad people, whether they are bad or or not. And the criterion for bad or good are ridiculous. First, we instigate people (even fifty people), to protest against their governments - to tempt the sitting leader to order his security forces to fire on the protestoers in order to restore order. Once that happened, we would condem and get other world leaders to condemn.
Next, we uniterally declared that since the so-called autocrat fired on his own people, he no loger had the right or legitimacy to govern, and began a process to topple him.
This has been the modus operandi of the current US government for the last four years. It cannot claim it is doing it in the name of democracy or human rights as it ignored violence or suppression of human rights in Saudi Arabia or Kuweit, to mention a few, where the American keeps its fifth fleets. This is blatant double standard, and they know it.
As an example of unethical leaders, President Obama, President Sarkozy of France and David Cameron of Great Britain, unabashedly admitted they lied when asked about the mission creeps of the Libya's in-famous no-fly zone, where NATO bombed the Libyan army and armor to pieces -- not just to protect civilians, as claimed.
As punishment by God, and by right, these leaders should not be allowed to win reelection.
It would be interesting to know if the voters in the three countries could overlook their unmistakable misdeeds -- especially those commited during the Libyan campaign.
For one, the French decided to dump President Sarkozy because despite his overzealous support for the Islamic forces arrayed against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, it did not stop Islamic terrorist attacks in France.
One down, with two to go, then.
President Obama would soon know if he would be allowed to continue to Islamicize America (and the world) and make America pay back in full for what he called the successive, past American governments' unjust and irrational attacks on or treatement of Muslims in America and throughout the world. If he's reelected in November, Obama himself will regard it as a pay-back time for America; and his becoming president of the world's only superpower will not be in vain.
As for Premier David Cameron, the mounting woes of his administration which are many, which includes, but not limited to, the austerity he imposed on Britons, are making people ask if his becoming prime minister is going to be a one-term wonder
In other words, our past Karma determines whether we become successful and happy in life, or howling in defeats and miseries as the results of our misdeeds.
How about we leave the bullets out of the guns we give them. That way our troops might stand a chance of taking down a turncoat. Better yet lets just get the hell out of there bring ALL our troops home and cut our losses.
How many more of our soldiers need to die before the pentagon, the joint chiefs and the president decide that we need to get the hell out of that hell hole. Is there a number that they are waiting to hit before that decision is met. The blood of our servicemans are in washigton hands. What other message this politicians and the head of our military need to get from the afghans for them to reilized that they do not want us there. My question is HOW MANY MORE LIFES WE NEED TO LOOSE BEFORE WASHINGTON MAKE THE DECISION TO GET OUT OF THERE. They do not want us there and we do not want to be there either. COME ON WASHINGTON LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, GET OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS OUT OF THERE. WAKE UP WASHIGTON AND SMELL THE COFFEE, you have fallen asleep and our son and daughters are dying over there every day. President, Congress, Senate the Pentagon, WAKE UP, HELLO! IS ANYBODY HOME, GET OUR SOLDIERS OUT OF THERE.
I believe a senior officer did say somthing and I belive he has to remain anonymous or end up like a few other Marines--arrested, put in a nut house, career ruined because Obama has thin skin and a trigger temper if something is said he doesn't like, especvially about him. He is a vain man and and thinks he is superior to us. Well like Clint Eastwood said--"you didn't do your job" What he has done has indangered our country, took the beginning of our rights away. If you people out there can't put 2 and 2 together, I feel sorry for you. Tell me, can you do the same thing with you freedom of speech and your privacy today, that you could do 4 years ago without any punishment from our governmnt. Not no, but He-l NO. Big brother watches us all and now has the right to arrest us or put us on a list as possible enemies of America. Thats Obamalaw. Freedom for any of us is not free. This has been one of the dirtest election years I have ever been through. Have either one of them bothered to discuss their plans for this conflict we are in, 1214 is to far off to let these murders keep shooting our soldiers in the back, one soldier lost this way is one to many. How many of you posting have sons and daughter turning 18 or between 18 and say 28, that could be sent to that god foresaken country if they start up the draft again? We have a lot of people saying what could happen and what could be done. Pull our troops out of there, we say. The people as a whole are not going to actually do any thing. We Americians still have a voice at this point, but what do you think we will have after 8 years with Obama. If Obama is replaced this election, maybe we won't be any better off, but we sure as he--can't be any worse. Obama had his chance to make a better America and he blew it. We all want to blame it on the past presidents--that's bull too, We replaced these presidents hoping for better, didn't happen. My husband served his country for 20 years, during the Korean conflict and the Vietnam conflict. We lost a lot of brave men and women, and our returning POW's coming home. We left Vietnam with our tails between our legs. No honor for our lost hero's, no honor for our returning troops. The returning POW"S was heartbreaking. The hell they went through. The day Saigon fell and our troops were trying to get people out of the embassy, and people outside the gate begging to be taken. Worst day in our history. The worst day has been replaced with our present conflict. How fast people forget. So you think we will always have our freedom? Ask Germany and France, England and other countries, ask world War II vets, who fought for for our freedom when Pearl Harbour was attacked, with out warning. Ask the Marines who fought for our country in this conflict, let them tell you about Obama"s dirty little war. We need to get out there and make our voices heard. Get out in our communities and towns and states. Carry signs, demonstrate, make our voice heard. Yes, even in Washington D.C.
carry sigh
Interesting and ironic that Karzai would say that friendly fraticide is only a small percentage of total number of arms in uniform on both sides without expressing any regret. Would he say the same when we inadvertently bomb, wound and kill Afghan civilians while rooting out bad guys, then pay compensation to those Afghans harmed? What is galling is that many of those "innocent" Afghans harbor insurgents, whether by choice or coercion, so can they really be truly "innocent" civilians? Will the families of the killed US and NATO servicemen receive compensatory benefits in return for such "green on blue unfriendly fire" incidents as we have done for them? I would just like to hear Afghan officials apologize without any rationalization or excuse for such despicable behavior. BTW, Koran burning should be weighed against destruction of millenia stone statues representing other faiths and religions that were carved into cliffs in Afghanistan, where was the national outrage? where was the moral indignation by Muslims who claim to be "tolerant"? Urinating on dead Taliban fighters should be weighed against what they have done to our wounded and captured service men. While such desecration is very regrettable as unacceptable, unbecoming behavior, let's not forget who the real 'bad guys' are!!!!! We came not to conquer but to cleanse and destroy an enemy that attacked us first on our home soil. Along the way, we spent countless billions in treasure, blood to help them build a nation, one that seems unable or unworthy. We didn't start this God awful war but we will finish it once and for all. This will not be a repeat of the Iraq experience where we allowed them to get away in 1991, to re-constitute and become bigger threats and pain in the neck. I say, nuke them if we have to and be done with that entire region, which has been a thorn since Alexander, and is still living in the Stone Age, contributing little to improving civilization in their own country let alone the world. Their only claim to fame is being the largest world producer of poppy and heroin, products that have little value except what little is used in medicines. The country is the literal arm pit of the world with little redeeming qualities, exceeded only by Ethiopia, Sudan, Yemen......all hot spots for extremist insurgents that should be exterminated like vermin that they are. And, yes, I have been there and have many Afghanie friends who regrettably also agree with my assessment, those who are brave enough to speak up that is. Those who can, would prefer to live any where but Afghanistan. So, when any one expresses sympathy for the situation, let's remember to put all of this in perspective....yes bad thing shappen when bad people do stuff, bad things happen even when good people do stuff!!!!!!
PS: I agree with Dan Campbell, having served in the military, I can't imagine handing over an automatic rifle fully locked & loaded. That is the height of stupidity, how many times do we need to learn that lesson??????
We go over there, beat their a$$es, shove Democracy down their throats....we cant turn our backs on them...those little b@$tards are everywhere. Sleeper cells my a$$....they will tell you to your face they hate this country and they are living here to "reap the fruits of our labor".....Just bring our men home for crying out loud. There is no keeping peace any longer...
Let me ad this...I wonder how many headlines state " Terrorist killed in U.S" Yeah...NONE....spineless
Time to pull out and nuke the god forsaken country ... then let them start over. And yes, I'm serious.
Be prepared America. The Afghanistan War used to be refered to as "Obama's War". Did you forget? Two hundred and eighty three (283) more US Sevicemen will loose their lives over the next two years before President Obama withdraws our troops following his so called "Date Line".