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Subscribe to RSSThe decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan and build up local forces “as quickly as possible” has contributed to “insider attacks,” three senators said Wednesday in a joint statement criticizing the Obama administration’s policies.
On Sunday, four U.S. soldiers were killed in an attack suspected of being carried out by members of the Afghan police; that came a day after two British soldiers were shot dead by an Afghan policeman.
On Monday, officials told NBC News that most joint U.S.-Afghan military operations had been suspended because of the attacks.
“We’re to the point now where we can’t trust these people,” a senior military official said.
US-Afghan military operations suspended after attacks
So far this year, 51 NATO troops have been killed in these so-called blue-on-green attacks.
Afghan security forces turned their guns on U.S. and NATO troops, killing four American soldiers and two British troops. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
On Wednesday, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement that “in light of the tragic recent attacks on U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, we understand and respect the rationale for scaling back combined operations between coalition and Afghan troops.”
“However, we also believe this decision raises questions about the broader strategy that the Obama administration has been pursuing in this conflict, especially with respect to its timetable for drawing down our military forces in Afghanistan,” they said.
Four US soldiers killed in Afghan 'insider' attack
The statement said the administration had “repeatedly deployed fewer forces than our commanders recommended” over the last three years and “is now drawing down those forces in larger numbers and at a faster pace than our commanders advised.”
“Our military leaders have testified to Congress that these decisions have put our mission in Afghanistan at greater risk, and those risks are now becoming more apparent,” the senators said. “In particular, we are concerned that the rush to build up the Afghan National Security Forces as quickly as possible -- so that U.S. forces could begin withdrawing on the Administration's timetable -- has contributed to the problem of the so-called 'insider attacks'.”
They said President Barack Obama had said the drawdown of U.S. forces would be in response to conditions on the ground.
“We believe those conditions are now worrisome enough to justify an immediate suspension of further U.S. troop withdrawals at this time,” the senators said. “The purpose of this 'strategic pause' should be to give our commanders time to evaluate the effects of recent troop withdrawals and to offer their best military advice on how we can achieve our goals in Afghanistan, while preventing further attacks on our forces and those of our allies. We cannot afford to rush to failure in Afghanistan.”
Responding to the statement, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said President Obama believes the transition to an Afghan security lead is "absolutely essential" after more than a decade of war.
"We have expended a great deal of blood and treasure in that effort," Carney said Wednesday. "And it is through the heroic and remarkable service of our men and women in uniform in particular that we are at a place now where Afghan security forces have developed capabilities and have developed the numbers that allows them to gradually take over security lead."
Carney added that the green-on-blue attacks are "a very concerning problem," and U.S. officials are working to protect against such attacks, but the transition process will not be affected.
NBC's Libby Leist and Ali Weinberg contributed to this report.
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Two Republicans and a Chickenhawk turncoat criticizing the President's policy in Afghanistan during an election year. I'm not at all surprised.
you will find out what this guy is all about. you be crying in your beer for defending him.
Obama don't have a policy
Of course Obama supporters don't care that he lied about ending Afghanistan and instead increased troop strength and then announced we were leaving, setting the troops up to be killed by the people Obama seems to support over Americans. Obama's foreign policy skills make Bush seem like a genius emeritus.
I believe then what Obama should come up with is the challenge to all of congress, especially the republicans..to pay for the wars they started during the Bush years.
Screw afghanistan, its a waste of blood and treasure. We've spent 9+ years there for what? a boatload of disabled vets to take care of. Exactly what strategic value is it to us? a breeding ground for terrorism? If we got out of there they wouldnt have much to complain about would they?
The only good thing it is for is to provide markets for weapon manufacturers. It has a tin pot dictator running it (karzai) who openly buddies up to the taliban. The "troops" we've trained can barely read or write, They shoot our troops in the back, they cant be trusted to do the simplest of tasks. All they want is to be left alone so they can chop each others heads off and oppress their women. Let them. Get out. four billion dollars a week is what we spend there, Screw them, lets spend that here fixing our own roads and schools.
It's just another FAIL by the Obama administration. The man simply does not know what the hell he is doing. He does not listen to or follow the advise of his military leaders. Afghanistan is bound to wind up in the hands of the Taliban and al Qaeda again after Obama cuts and runs. Then we will only have more terrorist attacks. We need a permanent surge and NO draw down until the damn war is won. Period. And we should suck the oil out of those countries until both wars are paid for in full.
Tom Wilcox,
Hey, ever hear of 9/11? You might want to Google it and see what happened, because you were obviously living in a frikin cave somewhere eleven years ago. Do you want the Taliban and al Qaeda to take over Afghanistan again? That is why we are still there, to prevent that from happening. Get a clue.
I am no real commander in charge. Can you imagine to be in the service and defending against american attackers and be told you have to recognize this man as commander in chief? Iam glad I served.
Now Russia is telling us to take our aid money and shove it.
How is that "RESET" working for you, Mr. Obama? Still going to give Putin what he wants on the reduction of our missile defense capabilities?
The state Dept. continues to lie about the events/situation in Libya. And they had rules of engagement in place in Libya that allowed the security vendors to carry guns BUT NO BULLETS to put in them. In Libya!4 Americans, including an Ambassador, are dead as a result of Obama's negligence.
The ME is burning and chanting "death to America" and "Obama, Obama we are all Osama" while burning our flags. But Obama says they don't hate US and we should squelch our free speech rights least we offend them. Also, wouldn't want to violate Sharia law. It would be toooo upsetting.
China is telling us to shove it too. And is still engaging in unfair trade practices, stealing our manufacturing base and jobs. Obama does virtually nothing. The Chinese give Hillary a cold reception and not much better for Panetta. Japan and China are on the brink of a confrontation.
Hezbollah is now inciting violence against the US
Iran is thumbing its nose at Obama and continues its nuclear weapons program at a faster pace than ever.
The Amateur is being schooled.
The killing of bin laden was a victory, but the rest has been an abysmal nightmare.
Bunkum!
beaz,
care to say which facts you find incorrect? Or did you only take your head out of the sand long enough to post a childish retort
I believe they want us gone from THEIR countries. We should never have been in Iraq and Afghanistan in the first place.
You seen Bin Laden's body? The same people pr aising Obama for "killing" him, are the same people who claimed for years that Bin Laden was dead and Bush was using his name to wage war.
Bluesky9 posted the following at WAPO
1:57 PM EDT
Crowd attacks US ambassador in Beijing
"An angry crowd mobbed a car carrying the US ambassador to China at the height of protests against Japan’s claims over islands in the East China Sea.
"Some Chinese observers have blamed the US for standing behind the Japanese on their claim, and suggested that the US is attempting to foment unrest in the region as a pretext for “pivoting” its naval forces back to the Pacific.
The Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei tweeted a photograph of the protest on Tuesday afternoon, and said the crowd had chanted: “Down with US imperialism” and “Pay us back our money!” referring to the trillion dollars or so of US government debt that China holds. "
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9552356/Crowd-attacks-US-ambassador-in-Beijing.html
Whoops! Wrong place. No rational discourse here.
That's funny right there!
Why does it not surprise us that two of these senators are republicans and the third a republican wanna-be hiding under an independent label.
Simple: they are honestand they are right. If they were liars we'd call them Democrats.
This administrations arrogance and amateurish foreign policy has created many problems around the globe.
The great liberator pranced around that he is the saviour and will unite the world. He bowed down and praised muslims and sold Israel down the river.
More problems are arising in asia.
His weakness has emboldened the arab nations and one of his legacy's will be Iran developing the nuclear bomb that they cherish.
And this liar -in-chief is awol, campaigning while our economy is crumbling and our embassy people are getting killed.
He more concerned to attacking romney than taking care of business, national and foreign.
He is an embarrassment to himself and this nation!
The Bush Freedom roosters are coming home to roost; only the chickenhawk is not in charge of the chicken coop anymore.
President Obama is the most competent Commander in Chief I've known; a President whose courage is to remain silent before his accusers while contemplating the advice of his commanders, balancing the military cost against political reality, and always putting country before politics. He is respected by those he respects for the bravery, duty and honor in serving this nation faithfully.
Vietnam Vet, 5th Special Forces, Detachment B36, Long Hai, Vietnam
I wish these three sabre-rattling idiots would just go away. If they'd have their wish American soldiers would be in Afghanistan for at least another 10 years fighting for what is an un-winable war. How many GI's would lose their lives under that scenario.
Fortunately Lieberman and McCain are at the end of their reigns but Graham will be around for a longtime.
So these senators are of the belief that maintaining more U.S. and allied troops in Afghanistan will prevent these insider killings? Wrong! What will prevent these killings is the removal of all potential victims from harm's way. Bring 'em home, Barak! The quicker the better.
Pretty sure their contention is that the hurry up build up of afgan police and the lower screening standards are what led to the insider attacks .
McCaine was the same jackass who wanted us to get involved in Syria. Dump these bozos. The only reason to go into Afghanistan was to kill Bin Laden. Bin Laden is dead and now get out of that stink hole and stop sending them money. Replace all these warmongers and bring our troops home to guard our borders and patrol our coasts. They have broke this country with their wars and defense spending.
We went to Afghanistan to kill or capture Osama Bin Laden and his Lieutenants. Had the Taliban turned OBL over when asked they would still be the recognized government in Afghanistan. When the Taliban refused to surrender OBL we had no choice but to over throw their government and go after OBL. We took our eyes off of Bin Laden and dropped the ball. Once we over threw the Taliban we had no choice but to try and set up a stable government. That has also been a failure and a high cost of lives and money. OBL and a lot of his Lieutenants have been killed. The freely elected government has been established (a crooked one but that is what the Afghanis voted for) and we have been training them for years, again at a high cost in money and deaths of our and other Nations service members.
We need to get out of Afghanistan now, ASAP. It should only take a few months to move our military out of Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan do not want us they, they do not respect us and they will never be a truly democratic government. Within one year or less after we withdraw the Taliban will again take over the country, so lets get out and quit wasting lives and money.
what contributes to insider attacks is our being their. get out.
Just listened to a Fox Interview of Representative Allen West regarding the incident in Libya and those responsible.
I respect the Representative for his and his families prior service to protect this country. Politics aside, he and his family deserve a salute and our thanks.
I am a bit concerned that his reference during his criticism of "those" (Gitmo releasees) potentially responsible for the attacks on Americans in Libya, etc. was "Gentlemen"? That is a stretch too far. The use of that term is usually reserved for the respected opposition in Congress, not for those that would do us harm.
So, while I respect the Congressman for his service, I question his use of terminology when it comes to identifying our enemies.
Former Secretary of Defense, Mr. Rumsfeld, mentioned that the deaths of the soldiers might occur in both Iraq and Afghanistan; however, it is a better place now than from 2004-200n.
USA has been left behind many things after decade of both wars which are inherited from the former Bush administration. USA has still a lot things to be done, to catch up with other nations, such as Russia or China, which they are better than us right now, for they do not have to spend billion and billion dollars in both wars.
If one has billion and billion dollars, what would one spend?
Suicides in the military have reached all time highs but by all means let's keep deploying our young folks until they stop killing themselves.
Yeah, the military should just a social service where you sign up to get lunch and a free pair of boots. Its totally absurd to be using a military for wars. Its an injustice that someone signing up for the military should ever have to do anything dangerous...
If you can't trust those people and they don't want you there then why stay there? Get out and get out now, we have already been there for too long or is it their resources we really want? What are we supposed to become an occupying force over there? what gives us that right? and why shouldn't they fight back if we are?
It's just another FAIL by the Obama administration. The man simply does not know what the hell he is doing. He does not listen to or follow the advise of his military leaders. Afghanistan is bound to wind up in the hands of the Taliban and al Qaeda again after Obama cuts and runs. Then we will only have more terrorist attacks. We need a permanent surge and NO draw down until the damn war is won. Period. And we should suck the oil out of those countries until both wars are paid for in full.
No, Junior's policy of ignoring the war in Afghanistan to start an unjustified and insane war in Iraq is what contributes to insider attacks. If he and the rest of the GOP leaders had done their jobs, they would have focused on, and finished, the war in Afghanistan many years ago. Instead, they left it to someone else to handle, and then all they can do is criticize from behind their mommy's skirt. The GOP is a party of incompetent cowards.
My Mitt Robme side says let's keep troops there indefinitely..... unless they bring back the draft and my sons have to go. My Barack Obama side says keep up the withdrawal as scheduled, war is hell and there will always be casualties. What to do. Let's wait and see what the rest of the neo-cons say after all these chicken hawks always want America to win............. they just don't want to fight for our country themselves.
The reason's we stay no longer add up!
With all the sky satellite's we have available we can keep an eye on Afganistan and keep it from becoming another, another as in again and as in one more in what is sure to be a long list of, terrorist training ground's now.
As for staying there to keep the taliban from taking over. That is no longer our problem, once we freed the people of their rule and gave them their country back, we did our part. Now we have just stayed way past anyone remembering or appreciating what we did for them and instead they will remember it as what we did to them.
If they don't stand up to stop it from happening again. Then that's their problem and they will get what they deserve for not taking advantage of the rare and precise gift we gave them. We can not just run to anyone's aid and do their fighting for them. Unearned freedom is just another way of being beholden to someone else for allowing you to be, or not to be, free.
So we need to leave and we need to leave under our commander's order's but under our military leader's plan's of safe withdrawal. If by any chance the military leader's have said we can withdrawal this many troop's at such and such a time and in such a way. But the commander has made them deviate what they know to be safe and secure for those remaining. Then he is guilty as charged by these senator's. Otherwise they should sit down shut up and support our troop's with what ever is needed to get them home safely.
Of course the murders are increasing, we are leaving because very obviously there is no reason to stay. Time to go!!! It is like Vietam, Someone asked, "Why are we here" and there was no good answer. The violence will continue long after we completely depart from Afghanistan. We need to spend this money at home and give our young folks a future. As son as we leave the struggle for power will increase and the West will benefit from a flood of educated refugees as it has in the past. We will be the new home for thousands of Afghans who want to leave in peace and have the wealth to leave the violence behind.
The fact that the illegal invasion of Afghanistan has been going on for over 10 years, while causing thousands upon thousands of civilian casualties, is the primary reason for insider attacks.
It's great, no one wants to take responsibility for the immense cluster F that this invasion has turned into and they're all just looking to point fingers at this point. Oh, it's the current administrations fault,...oh, it's Bush's fault...oh, it's the guy who made that anti islam movies fault....all BS. It's time to wash our hands of that country and accept the fact that we learned absolutely nothing from the Russians having tried to undertake the same task many years earlier.