E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSAfghan security forces turned their guns on U.S. and NATO troops, killing four American soldiers and two British troops. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Most joint U.S.-Afghan military operations have been suspended following what authorities believe was an insider attack Sunday that left four American soldiers dead, officials told NBC News.
“We’re to the point now where we can’t trust these people,” a senior military official said. So far this year, 51 NATO troops have been killed in these so-called blue-on-green attacks. Sunday's attack came a day after two British soldiers were shot dead by an Afghan policeman, Reuters reported.
Four NATO soldiers killed in Afghan 'insider' attack
"It's had a major impact on our ability to conduct combat operations with them, and we're going to have to back off to a certain degree," the official said.
The suspensions of the joint operations are indefinite – according to one official, they “could last three days or three months.”
The escalating violence — including a NATO airstrike that killed eight Afghan women and girls gathering firewood — is straining the military partnership between Kabul and NATO as the U.S. begins to withdraw thousands of troops sent three years ago to rout the Taliban from southern strongholds.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the airstrike; the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force later extended its regrets over those deaths.
The U.S. training mission and joint combat patrols are "critical" to the U.S. plan to withdraw all combat forces by as early as the middle of next year and almost all U.S. military from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
In May, President Barack Obama announced that he and Karzai signed an agreement that would see the removal of 23,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by the summer's end.
“As our coalition agreed, by the end of 2014 the Afghans will be fully responsible for the security of their country," Obama said at the time. But the president was clear that the U.S. would stay engaged into the future.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More world stories from NBC News:
- Islamist militants attack Egypt security headquarters in Sinai
- NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin in Benghazi answers questions about attack
- In Niger, child marriage on rise due to hunger
- Obama: US has 'profound respect for people of all faiths'
- Clashes after South Africa cops raid miners' hostels to seize weapons
Leave a Comment:
About time! We need to just get out and let the savages iron things out themselves.
I am sorry for the deaths of women and young girls. But, why isn't Karzai outraged that his citizens are murdering our soldiers for trying to help them defend their country? We need to leave that place. NOW.
I agree with the consensus. Get the hell out, forget about being "engaged into the future."
That includes monetary payments to the tune of billions.
Finally someone has made a decision that indicates some intelligent life still exists in the military brass. I read the following lowing statement in the above publication..“We’re to the point now where we can’t trust these people,” a senior military official said.
WHAT A PROFOUND & BRILLIANT CONCLUSION.
And these are our leaders....how scary!
What happens when Iran finishes their Nukes? Obama won't even talk to Israel. Big mistake.
isreal has nukes. They can handle iran if the threat is real.
clue for the clueless: obama talks to isreal all the time. He even authorized sales of weapons that bush refused (bunker buster bombs). You need to pay attention and not just listen to fox news.
yeah kevin.....because vermontguy is so much smarter than you.
lol
Let's pull everyone out...our troops, NATO.....everyone needs out of there. We are doing nothing but irritate and give these people an opportunity to kill us. Why more slaughter ? any real reason ? to what purpose ? Originally, according to Bush; we went there to chase Osama. Well, he is gone so lets get out. We cannot fix everyone's problems.
those poor afghani women and girls.
...i guess we should just condemn the women of afghanistan to the hell that awaits them.
so much for hillary clinton advocating for women in afghanistan
What about our poor widows and fatherless/motherless boys and girls here in the US because of those SOBs...can't save everybody, but we sure in the hell can start by bringing our troops home NOW!!!
well, keck, feel free to go over there and fight for the women of afghanistan. There is only so much one country can do for another. Nothing inconstant or wrong with clinton advocating for the women of afghanistan and us leaving after all we've done for them. We gave the country a chance, it isn't our fault if they haven't taken advantage of over a decade of our intense support.
Keck, we have poor women and children in the USA. As for the Afgani women, lots of them consider it an honor to wear the burka and be a muslim. They don't realize that they are nothing more than receptacles for the muslim man's seeds. Most are illiterate, backwards and are brainwashed into hating the West. The West doesn't need them, we don't need to protect them and the world would be a better place if they just didn't exist at all. If you want to protect the Afgani women, I'm sure you can find a way to get there and get on with it.
thats what hillary clinton and nancy pelosi was saying 4 years ago.
...you gotta beef....take it up with them
Karzai boldly condemns the NATO bombing of some "firewood gatherers" while saying jack @!$%#e about his police cowardly murduring our troops. Finally some jackass with a few stars on his shoulder says we will stand down for 3 days or 3 months yada yada yada. These turd bucket generals allow our troops to be slaughtered by tying the hands of our troops on when and how they can engage the enemy. It's a no win situation for the troops. I wouldn't blame anyone that would refuse deployment to Afganistan. If it were me, I'd head for Canada.
The United States should pull our troops out immediately and let the animals kill each other. They eventually will go back to the stone age.
It is time to come home.
I supported this war when it started. I felt our best friend was attacked .. we need to stand with the USA on this one.
I didn't know Bush would cut and run as soon as they got close to Bin Laden. I didn't't know they would take troops out of Afghanistan and invade a country that had nothing to do with 911 .. just to steal their oil.
Lot's of Candians have died since then.
I now do not support this war and want our men and women back home.
most canadians dont know.
...dont beat yourself up over it.
Get the hell out of there. Leave those mental microbes to their own stupidity and 12th century mentality. Just put a fence around their nation and dont let any of them into a western country. Muslims are doing a great job of bringing normal civilised people down to their animalistic behaviour. Get out and stay out.
Well said.
Who and what exactly are our brothers and sisters dying for.
Remember people .. In November you people in the USA are making a choice.
Romney = stay in the war.
Obama = war will end as soon as possible .. I believe him because unlike the Republicans .. Obama did NOT disband the people after Bin Laden .. he resurrected them.
He ended the war in Iraq.
He ordered the death of Bin Laden and it was done with NO cut and run like the Republicans.
too bad you are not an american.
....you should try to get barak to be your prime minister or whatever if you think he is so great.
I agree that the troops should be brought home. However, that won't end the war. I still haven't seen Al-Quada surrender. So, we will just be getting attacked here at home or our embassies. Whatever it may be, Americans will still be getting killed by Muslim extremist. That said, no one has figured out how to fight this war. Clinton tried missle warfare, Bush just outright invaded two governments and Obama has used drone attacks. Yeah, we killed Osama, but "Make No Mistake" we are still at war!
I thought that we went to AFGHANISTAN.......to HUNT DOWN and KILL Bin Laden.....and then we GO HOME? I didn't know that AFGHANISTAN was like GRABBING a tiger by the tail.....and we're afraid to LET GO......lets it turn around and BITE our A--S!
THAT is one reason we didn't go and help the FREEDOM LOVING SYRIANS! We DON'T want to GET STUCK (in the mud). We might LIKE IT too much!
Why can't we go home.........SOONER!........rather than later? SOONER means.......RIGHT NOW!.....Maybe even YESTERDAY!
Today I went to eat at ARBY's....a fast food eatery. I was asked to DONATE one dollar.....to help FUND.....HUNGRY CHILDREN! Right here in BISMARCK.
I made a comment like: Our Government is giving away $Billions of dollars to countries like AFGHANISTAN.......and the more we give....the MORE....they HATE our GUTS!
Is AMERICA in DECLINE? Or..........have we LOST our senses?
You have a very good point.
My opinion is America needs to do some nation building right there in the USA.
The USA before this new brand of Republicans came into the picture was a light on the hill. Hope for all in the whole world as well as the most generous people in the world.
You have played an important role in the world that we all thank you for. True world leaders.
Thing is .. you can't help others if you can't help yourselves.
The world needs you here. Time to take a scond look at what the neocon Republican Taliban have been doing to the USA.
Please vote this year.
so you are saying that you want to come to america and kill republicans that you consider "taliban" ?
...gee uh....i am not sure how i feel about that
The are only two reason we are in Afghanistan.
The oil lines that run through Afghanistan and the poppy fields.
Heroin production is at an all time high in Afghanistan.
The Marines guard the poppy fields. The CIA distributes the heroin and England gets a portion of the profits from the sales of heroin.
Washington DC is the District of Crime, Corruption and Conspiracies and the Death of Civilians in the New World Order.
I can almost believe that Mr.Parks after hearing how much Chase, BofA and other Big Banks are laundering Money from the Drug Trade. I never would have believed it. I checked the facts on the story and it is true. The Banks are looking into it and plan to plan to plan on how to stop it.
When a plan back fires, time to change plans. As sympathetic as one can be regarding the plight of these folks in Afghanistan, enough is enough, let them solved their own problems.
In light of the attacks against out troops by the people they have been helping and training, I hope that this administration makes the decision to get our troops out as quickly as it can be done. If they want to make our withdrawal difficult, we should respond with extreme prejudice. We should be clear when we let them know that they are now going to have to deal with their own problems their own way and with their own resources. If the Chinese or Russians want to step in an try to be the next big brother to these people, let them; we don't need to waste any more of our resources on them and it has proven to be a waste.
Obama wants to change the U.S. Flag to "white". Let's just surrender all around the world, ask for forgiveness and hope they don't "retaliate". Typical of liberals but doesn't solve the problems around the world that we, at least currently, have our pulse on.
If the United States withdraws financial aid and manpower in the Middle East because "they don't like us" then we have to do the same thing everywhere. If we do that, then we isolate our form of government from the rest of the world and give dictators free reign. The U.S. must continue to have a commanding presence in the world or the "world" will be forever changed. By the way, that's why we are hated and loved at the same time in the same country. It is either "short sighted" or leftist to want the U.S. to withdraw from the world, either way, we lose and "they" lose.
Not so Lukewarm. People were fooled into thinking that a few years ago but if you have your hand on the pulse of the world, you know beyond a doubt its just past time to GET OUT. Things are going to POP and that is the wrong place to be. Its Vulnerable and thats not at all smart or Defensive or a good place to Protect USA Mainland.
Obama wants to change the U.S. Flag to "white". Let's just surrender all around the world, ask for forgiveness and hope they don't "retaliate". Typical of liberals but doesn't solve the problems around the world that we, at least currently, have our pulse on.
If the United States withdraws financial aid and manpower in the Middle East because "they don't like us" then we have to do the same thing everywhere. If we do that, then we isolate our form of government from the rest of the world and give dictators free reign. The U.S. must continue to have a commanding presence in the world or the "world" will be forever changed. By the way, that's why we are hated and loved at the same time in the same country. It is either "short sighted" or leftist to want the U.S. to withdraw from the world, either way, we lose and "they" lose.
How about we just send Obama over there so he can tell them about the Arab Spring and about how we really, really love them and are profusely apologetic if we have ever offended them??
i agree. he is really really good at that.
And so Afghanistan wins again.
Ready for someone else to take the place of the US.
This country thrives on war.
We need to be there, but not at this cost.
Never thought I would say that, but it is becoming evident.
I just really hate it for the people, (especially the women and children).
We need to come home.
I thought we went to AFGHANISTAN to HUNT DOWN and KILL Bin Laden? Isn't it TIME TO GO?
Is AFGHANISTAN like a TIGER that we grabbed by the tail....and we're afraid to LET GO.....lest it bites our AS_S?
Today, I ate at ARBY'S.....a fast food eatery. I was ASKED to donate one dollar, to help FEED a hungry child here in Bismarck. And yet, our Government is giving these countries BILLION$ of dollars.
The MORE we give them....the more they HATE our GUTS! We CAN'T even keep our Ambassadors out of harm's way, because we just love to PEE in their backyards!
Is AMERICA IN decline.......or......have we LOST our senses?
is that all you can post ? ...because you just posted the same thing like 10 min ago.
...47 million americans are on food stamps....if anyone needs food there are a few more food stamps to go around.
I am still trying to figure out why we are sharing all our skills, tactics, training methods, arms, ammo, etc. with people who are itching to use it against us. And voila, they are now using it against us. Thats great that we trained them to kill us more efficiently. They don't want us there. Duh. Leave only what you need to there to oversee our interests, but send everyone else home. Let them kill each other under their zealous religious beliefs. And stop teaching them all we know, so they can kill us better. Jeesh! Its a little embarrassing to read how we taught them all they know and now, no surprise, their turning the weapons we gave them on us. Seriously, how ridiculous does it have to get before we get smarter? Would you give the home intruder your best weapon to compliment whatever weapon he entered your home in, and while you're at it, give him the code to your security system??
take there guns, they cant be trusted, they are not our friends.
Thats true ghow, but now they know We are not their friends either. You know what happens in war. Civilians badly treated, terrorized daily, living on the edge, their country blown to bits and occupied by war profiteers. Haliburton, Oil, Mines, people taken advantage of. They know we are not their friends when they read all the posts over all the years of American nutcases foaming at the mouth and gnashing their teeth at them. They are not our friends & we are not theirs.
There can be no Peace anywhere unless people are treated Justly with alittle Respect. We badly need Justice and a few honest people who Do things Right. No Justice..No Peace. That goes for here in the USA too. No Justice...No Peace.
If we don't concentrate more effort on strengthening the core of America herself and the citizens of the United States who make up America, there won't be any democracy to defend.
Just leave the middle east to their own devices. I know, I know .."what about all that oil???"). How many lives is that oil worth is the question. Just leave the middle east sort themselves out and then wander back in when the place is reduced to a glass parking lot.
It's no secret that the US isn't exactly welcome in that part of the world so maybe it would make sense to withdraw from the region and try repairing relations at arms length .
So, Husseins' War On Muslims not going well, huh. Airstrikes killing 8 women and children sounds kinda bad. Need to ask Hussein if it is still the "right war" as he said.
Wow! Can you say Vietnam? Deja vu all over again.