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Subscribe to RSSIn light of recent attacks, troops are told to "build trust, but make sure you have a bodyguard present." NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Updated at 5:54 p.m. ET: An apparent insider attack by Afghan forces has killed a U.S. service member and a contractor, officials said Sunday – bringing the total number of U.S. troops killed inside Afghanistan to 2,000 according to some measures.
A U.S. official confirmed the latest death in the 11-year-old conflict on Sunday.
The American service member killed was a soldier. The American contractor was working as a trainer for either the Afghan army or police, according to NBC News.
On Saturday night, an Afghan soldier approached Americans, killing a soldier and a contractor; with that, the number of soldiers killed in Afghanistan is around 2,100 in the United States' 11-year-war in the country. Insider attacks have become increasingly common – and no one seems to have a good answer about how to stop them. NBC's Lester Holt and Richard Engel report from Kabul.
The attack happened Saturday at a checkpoint on a highway in Wardak Province, a defense official said. Two Afghan National Army soldiers approached the checkpoint and had a brief conversation with the troops there. One of the ANA soldiers then shot and killed the American service members and the contractor, officials told NBC News.
With a suspected "insider" attack at a checkpoint. the US military has suffered its 2,000th death in the war in Afghanistan. NBC's Atia Abawi and Mike Viqueira report.
A brief firefight ensued, and left at least three Afghan Army soldiers dead - including the initial shooter, officials said.
The Afghan military claimed the Americans were killed by a mortar attack, but the American military insisted that is not true, that the Afghan soldier opened fire and they returned fire.
The dead U.S. soldier was identified as Sgt. 1st Class Riley G. Stephens, 39, of Tolar, Texas. Stephens was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, N.C.
The U.S. toll in Afghanistan has climbed steadily in recent months with a spate of attacks by Afghan army and police against American and NATO troops, and questions about whether allied countries will achieve their aim of helping the Afghan government and its forces stand on their own after most foreign troops depart in little more than two years. The U.S. is preparing to withdraw most of its combat forces by the end of 2014.
The Associated Press reported Sunday that the latest death was the 2,000th member of the U.S. armed services killed inside Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion on Oct. 7, 2001. However, that AP figure did not include those who died after sustaining injuries in Afghanistan or those killed in other countries as part of the same campaign against al-Qaida and the Taliban.
TODAY's Lester Holt heads down the road to Sangasar, the physical and spiritual heart of the Taliban. He speaks with American and Afghan soldiers along the way.
According to icasualties.org, an independent monitoring organization which uses the wider definition, the latest death brings the toll of U.S. service members to 2035. At least a further 1,190 coalition troops have also died in the Afghanistan war, it says.
The Brookings Institution, a Washington-based research center, said 40.2 percent of the deaths were caused by improvised explosive devices, with the majority of those after 2009 when President Barack Obama ordered a surge of 33,000 troops to combat heightened Taliban activity. According to the Washington-based research center, the second highest cause, 30.6 percent, was hostile fire.
Tracking civilian deaths is much more difficult. According to the U.N., 13,431 civilians were killed in the Afghan conflict between 2007, when the U.N. began keeping statistics, and the end of August. Going back to the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, most estimates put the number of Afghan deaths in the war at more than 20,000.
The 2001 invasion targeted al-Qaida and its Taliban allies after the Sept. 11 attacks, which claimed nearly 3,000 lives in the United States.
"The tally is modest by the standards of war historically, but every fatality is a tragedy and 11 years is too long," Michael O'Hanlon, a fellow at the Brookings, told the AP. "All that is internalized, however, in an American public that has been watching this campaign for a long time. More newsworthy right now are the insider attacks and the sense of hopelessness they convey to many. "
Attacks by Afghan soldiers or police — or insurgents disguised in their uniforms — have killed 52 American and other NATO troops so far this year.
The so-called insider attacks are considered one of the most serious threats to the U.S. exit strategy from the country. In its latest incarnation, that strategy has focused on training Afghan forces to take over security nationwide — allowing most foreign troops to go home by the end of 2014.
As American troops draw out of Afghanistan, officials say the removal plan is on track but that time is precious and the Taliban threat is worrisome. NBC's Lester Holt reports.
Although Obama has pledged that most U.S. combat troops will leave by the end of 2014, American, NATO and allied troops are still dying in Afghanistan at a rate of one a day.
Even with 33,000 American troops back home, the U.S.-led coalition will still have 108,000 troops — including 68,000 from the U.S. — fighting in Afghanistan at the end of this year. Many of those will be training the Afghan National Security Forces that are to replace them.
"There is a challenge for the administration," O'Hanlon said, "to remind people in the face of such bad news why this campaign requires more perseverance."
The Associated Press and NBC News' Courtney Kube and Atia Abawi, in Kabul, contributed to this report.
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"There is a challenge for the administration," O'Hanlon said, "to remind people in the face of such bad news why this campaign requires more perseverance." One word can sum it up,Money.
Ricardo is looking in his mirror again !!
Good night ladies.....there is a white girl in my bed....got to give it to her like no white boy can....hahahahaha
What,,aids,,herpes,,,crabs?
Son I loved young punks like you. P.T. you until you passed out. Then let you lay for while. Man I can not wait until it goes to shi!t here. People like you will still be looking for your hand out, an believe me people like me will have a hand for you alright.
Where is the headline that blames it all on Bush. Where are the activists? Where is dear old Cindy camped-out in front of Bush's home? Where are the Hollywood actors? Where is the daily reminder of these deaths? Where is the MEDIA?
I guess none of it matters 4 years later. The last 4 years is hope and change.
WAKE UP AMERICA
I was watching the Ryder Cup yesterday and they did
a camera scan of people sitting on a bench. It took 3 time before I realized the white guy
setting next to Michael Jordan was Bush.. he never did stand out in a crowd.
Folk they all volunteered to go over there. They knew the dangers, they saw others be killed so it is not like the Government made them do it. They wanted to go. Stop blaming President Obama.
O&JOe 12
Obama is "the president." As long as he keeps us there it is his responsibility and he gets the blame.
He started bowing and apologizing as soon as he got into office. This from a man who was schooled in the politics of Islam and the Muslims. You don't apologize in the Middle East. Ever. It's a loss of face, makes you and everything and everybody associated with you an object of ridicule, and weakness.
Another thing you don't do to Middle Eastern rulers, regardless of how worldly they present themselves is send a freaking woman to deal with them on an equal basis. Do you think all those photo ops of Hillary in native costume dress was because they honored her? Every picture printed across the world of Hillary in native dress was a middle finger to the US.
How many of our guys were murdered like this when Bush was president? And I think he and Cheney should be strung up by their thumbs.... in Iraq.
WTF Obama.
How much longer are you going to dick around in afghanistan before you finally bring our troops home, the very same troops who saved the butts of these garbaage smelling 3rd world inbeciles who are so ignorant they don't even wipe their butts after taking a dump.
These are the very same afghan troops who have taken to murdering our troops in cold blood lately, even after all the billions of dollars we have spent on improving this 3rd world shi- hole and training their pond scum pig eating pieces of garbage troops of theirs.
Get out of there right friggin now Obama, you still don't have my vote sealed up yet.
And when are you going to find the guts to stand up to china?
If you'd been watching lately he has been and he will do more, but everytime he does Romney says he is hurting the American Worker, imagine that?
Wow Ricardo-your a typical Obama supporter....ignorant, useless, immature, un-educated, childish, most likely un-emplolyed and living off Obama. I bet if you ask real nicely he'll let you shine his shoes. I hope you and your family are the first ones raped, sodomize, tortured and drug thru the streets while your beloved President sits there and watches. Your worthless and need to get the @!$%# out of this country, since I doubt you or your ancestors are even legal here anyway.
Typical Romney Butt Kisser, Blah, Blah, Blah.
Butt Kisser....That is a good discription of Obama...especially when it comes to places like Pakistan, Lybia, Eygpt...
PS: 6DICKS-I dont especially care for Romney but he's the lesser of two evils since Obama has done jack@!$%# in the 4 years he has already had a chance to make his great 'change'. If this was his first time running, id maybe have hope for something different from him. But its his attempt at re-election and the fact that in 4 years he hasnt done anything so great and the latest has him ass kissing our enemies. But im sure you think he actually 'cares' about you and is here to help you. He doesnt give two squirts of duck @!$%# about you or anyone else like you-its all about getting your vote. At the end of the day, he is rich, associates with the rich, has the rich contribute to his campaign, and doesnt care about the poor/middle class because he will never be in either category. Not to mention he is Muslim and has stated multiple times he is and supports the Islamic faith. So if your cool with all that then move your ass to the Middle East and have a nice day :)
Right on the money Jodi!!!! Well said!!
I have yet to meet a person who SERVED that likes war, but all seem to know why. Do we want to fight them over there or wait until they come over here AGAIN. The problem is not the war, it is that our troops hands are tied. Now I will give him credit. He did send in the seals to have confirmation on him, so we would not have all the speculation about the him like we have with Hitler ( Is he dead crap ). But if he would untie their hands it would be a lot different. Bring home more troops only makes the enemy think they are winning an attacks will increase. Watch an see over the next year or 2. May God bless our troops in service today.
Please E, you nailed it. They all volunteered. They raised their hand and wanted to go, for what ever reason. Now quit the hand wringing when some get what they knew might happen. Move on.
TY. It is war. People die. If people really want to help then tell the people in power to untie their hands. And I could care less what party they are from. It makes no difference to me. All I care about is the troops. We ask them to do a job most people are not willing to do their selves. Our troops are the best trained and motivated in the world. I have worked with other services around the world an they do not even come close but, the best training an gear only go so far. Our young people are not fighting for ideas, they are fighting for their brothers in sh!t with them.
Almost as many were killed under Bush as under Obama, and Obama is winning. What does that tell you.
O&JOe 12
Obama is winning? What is he winning? Oh I know the votes from the Muslim Brotherhood, all the illegals in our country...other than that he is winning nothing...he spent $70 million in Pakistan on ads apologizing for the stinking film, a Pakistani official put a $100,000 bounty on the film makers head..what have we heard Obamanation say about that? NILL NOHTHING...The Dr who helped ID Bin Laden is in jail because Obamanation told the whole world who the Dr. was...and the Dr is sitting in jail for 30 years, is Obama doing anything to get him out...NO...Obama's time is up! Vote him out..
There's only one L in "nil."
Sorry Leroy but the fingers type faster sometimes. :0)
If you're talking about innocent civilians murdered by the UNITED SNAKES, I can assure you that O'Bubba 'has pulled ahead.' Why do you think the Afghans are 'cleaning house' with the US/NATO 'baby killers' these dayze?
Why stick around to train their police, while they slowly pick us off as a reward? I think we have sufficient cause to leave early. Why stick around till 2013? Time to leave now and let them go back to shooting and blowing up their own people as the Arab nations love to do...
Potable: If we leave now they will follow us home and blow up stuff over here, e.g., World Trade Center in New York. If we stay until 2014 we will have won and they cannot follow us home. That is why.
O&JOe 12
We will always need to maintain a force there. If we pull out now the president over there will cave-in within a year, and we will be fighting them over here again. Now I love the USA so do not take this wrong, but most people do not have the stomach to help out if called upon. The American people by in-large are to far removed from this. So it would be better to untie our troops hands and let them win.
Throughout history the aggressors have done much of the bleeding. Why should it be any different in AF/PAK, Somalia, Yemen and Palestine? The UNITED SNAKES (US/NATO) were once a force for good. Today they are mere predators stealing small nations carbon reserves, their minerals, and other natural resources (computer programmers from India, engineers from Pakistan, S. Korea and China). Yassar, seems the decaying US can not produce much these dayze except Nintendo players, Wall Street Jewish thieves, bankster criminals (More Jewish thieves), Credit card companies that steal using 'usuary' (Yet more Jewish thieves - Hey, they 'invented' usuary, ya know? - and of course, world class druggies and pot smokers, et. al). Sad ain't it?
wakani, I have tried to ignore your stupid callous remarks but this time you are so freaking stupid I can't.
Stay until 2014 and we will have won and they won't follow us here and blow stuff up like the World Trade Center?
Let's go back to the several times you said that the guys dying over there knew what they were getting into when they volunteered so let them die and STFU and move on.. that's the gist of your compassion and reaction to the deaths of our military at the hands of our "allies" there.
(Do let me say you stupid ignorant freak.... no they did not know what they getting into with this bunch of two faced murdering lying bastards. Most of the enemies we have been to war with have not invited our men to dinner and shot them dead at the table.... have not stood beside them killing their own people, clapped them on the back over a job well done, then turned the guns on them and killed THEM as well... you get the picture you ass?)
Anyway, you personally have no horse in that race to say they should stay until 2014... do you? Seeing as how you personally did not volunteer to go stay until 2014 yourself? When they volunteered, most were told they wouldn't do more than one or two tours in that filthy hell. Oh, wait!!! You don't bother to read about the many return tours they have subjected to, the breakdowns and suicides of the "volunteers" you are so blithely talking about here, do you?
Screw you, you piece of sh!t.
You tell him Scremin"!!!!! Wakni, WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!!!!!!!!
I really do not understand WHY we are arming and training these animals over there when they turn around & kill our soldiers with our own weapons. Our service men & women are not even allowed to be armed while in their own barracks while the local "police/guards" are carrying AK-47s. I don't get it. THEY HATE US. If given an opportunity to kill Americans - THEY WILL!
Well it doesn't matter what the people think. This is what happens when corporations run the world. Years and years of absolutely pointless killing and death, both sides are guilty of this BTW. Terrorism is a fear tactic that our Gov. uses to manipulate us and take our rights. We must be strong and stand up to this tyranny together. Down with corporate fascism and Government lies. Anyone remember building 7 or the lie that took us to war in the middle east.....Weapons of Mass Destruction? It's time to awaken.
Thrill: Spot on there, Bush and Nixon were the worse. Both lied. Nixon when he said the North Vietnam PT boats attacked out ships. It was simply a lie to convince American People that we should go bomb this backward country in Asia. How man died because of that?
O&JOe 12
It is important to remember who the real enemy is. Income disparity grows steadily all over the world. OWS is a little ahead of it's time, but the incredible greed at the top will not relent without the biggest revolution mankind has ever seen, a worldwide one. The Al Qaida soldier and the American soldier, and every other poor soldier in the world have a common enemy. When they realize this, nothing will stop the overthrow and overhaul of the entire global economic world.
Wakani....Nixon did not state that North Vietnamese PT boats attacked our ships...It was Pres L.B. Johnson, and he used that to send in combat troops starting in May of 65 so get your facts straight, and by the way Johnson was a Dem...
You have an excellent point about fear. Fear will make you give up your rights, give up your guns. Don't take my word for it look at Germany. And I do not care who in power, both parties are doing it.There is a lot of money and power to be obtained with fear.
When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty...Thomas Jefferson
Unfortunately as many have said, anyone killed in AfPak has died for nothing - lives totally wasted by our own favorite government. Nothing gained, nothing accomplished, no safer from terrorism than 11 years ago. Military unable to win a war against people dressed in pjs. What a disgrace to the country. Thanks to the politicos, who are hoping to bug out and try to look good in the process. Thank you for y our service, here is yr flag.
America seemed to have this totally unrealistic idea that they could wipe out anti-American sentiment with a combination of killing, yet also winning hearts and minds over to an American worldview. They should have gone hard after Bin Laden, who should have been caught within a couple months, killed him and as many leaders as they could within a reasonble time there,[a few months] then came home. Iraq was completely ridiculous. It injured America's reputation in the world PERMANENTLY. America will never gain back the moral highground they once held. Never mind other countries wanting to arrest Bush and Cheney for their war crimes, AMERICANS should want this more than anyone else. The invasion of Iraq hurt America more than any other country except, perhaps, Iraq itself.
Leroy... I agree with part of your statement....but when it comes to Iraq, there was reason to believe Saddam still had WMD....also prior to Bush here are a few statements made about those WMD....
"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998.
"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998.
"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998.
"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998
"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."
Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others Oct. 9, 1998.
"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998.
"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999.
"There is no doubt that . Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, Dec, 5, 2001.
"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them."
Sen. Carl Levin (d, MI), Sept. 19, 2002.
"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.
"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power."
Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seing and developing weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002.
"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002.
"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force — if necessary — to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002.
"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years . We also should remember we have alway s underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Jay Rockerfeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002,
"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do."
Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002.
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction. "[W]ithout question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation. And now he has continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real ...
Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003.
What do you call a "weapon of mass destruction?" A bomb that can kill 50 or 100 people? They DID have that in Iraq. There you go, there's your WMD. I thought that Iraq DID have chemical weapons as they used to have them. Iraq was portrayed as an "imminent threat" and this was not the case. The preponderance of the evidence, at the time of the decision to invade, was that Iraq was very weak, still trying to recover from the Gulf war. There was NO evidence that they had EVER even begun to start up any kind of nuclear operation. Remember all the "mushroom cloud" statements those lying war-mongering, war criminals Bush and Cheney were spewing? These were LIES. Out and out, baldfaced, knowing LIES they told to force the country into this insane, pointless invasion of a country that was NO threat and they KNEW it was no threat. Instead of aggressively persuing Osama Bin Laden, Bush and company allowed the Afghanistan mission to move forward very slowly, then aggressively persued his illegitimate invasion of Iraq, turning his back on the 911 victims. The blood of every American soldier and innocent Iraqi civilian killed in the idiotic Iraq war is on their hands.
So are Chemical weapons which Saddam used on his own people, and during the war with Iran he used em...don't believe me google it and find out...
No argument there Stan, I thought that they WOULD find chemical weapons or evidence of recent production, but they didn't even have chemical weapons anymore, they were weak, still decimated from the Gulf war. Having chemical weapons is pretty common, if you think this is a reason to invade a country then we have a lot of invading to do, better get started.
Leroy it comes down to this....Do you think, or believe Iran wants a nuke? Are they working on one? Hell I don't know, but from their own actions, and the fact that the IAEA believes they are, and the fact that Iran will not let the IAEA inspectors check sites they feel are being used for developement of such weapons...so my conclusion, though not important, is yeah they may very well be trying to develope one...I hope I am wrong, but...............
I'm not sure if they really want a nuke, or just want people to think they may have them, or just want the right to their nuclear power program. It is a delicate situation and one which Obama's level-headed coolness is MUCH preferred over Romney's jerky, bumbling, suspicious manner.
Wow, two trolls trolling each other. How cool is that? ANd a double ignore less than five minutes after I wake up. It's going to be a good day.
Leroy Brown you are correct. Very insightful, except can we wait that long.
We need income equality NOW.
O&JOe 12
We need work equality now. Get off your butt, quit whining, put your big girl panties on and deal with reality.
Income equality?? WTF do you think is? Robin Hood? I guarantee you watch TV, watch sports, buy CDs and download music-therefore making people like Jay Z and Terrell Owens rich. But if Romney or some other business man is wealthy, they should feel bad and give you some of their money just because you have less?? Go to school, learn a skill, invest, do something for yourself and make your own damn money. Everyone has the same chances at going to school and learning a skill and be successful. And dont give me the bull@!$%# about minorities or poor people not having a fair chance because thats bull@!$%#. There are more scholarships for being Black, Hispanic, Gay, etc and in fact there are NO scholarship or grants for being WHITE. Because God forbid that would be racist and all. And poor people are the only ones that even receive Financial Aid-the rest of us have to pay ourselves. If you feel so strongly about redistribution then go walk your happy ass down to the poor part of town and start handing out dollar bills. Take a picture so we know you actually followed through and belive so strongly in income equality.
Wakani...that is what people call Trickle down Economics...take from those who have and give to those who don't, so those who don't won't have to work...
OMG! What to do?!!! The murderous US/NATO baby killers are getting their clocks cleaned by their victims as their brutal racist aggression of 11 years begins to grind to a halt because they can't get their victims to murder each other to show their suppport for the racist foreign aggressors who have never lost their sight of their original goal. The UNOCAL oil/gas line to feed the low life bankrupt regurgitated colonists of the US/NATO nations that begin to see the 'writing on the wall.' Yasssar, you're history MFer's and from here on in its all down hill until the vultures start picking at your carrion and bones - Whooppee!
Missing the meds are you?
I just love arm chair heroes. Good morning sir. Did you have a good nights rest not worrying about a foreign country invading while you hated the young men dieing for your good nights sleep?
I don't get it. Those animals that we're "training" to be security/guards HATE Americans & will take advantage of ANY opportunity to kill our service men & women. We are not even allowed to be armed in our own barracks, while the Afgans are walking around carrying fully automatic weapons. Is our government stupid?? Again..they HATE Americans and do not want our help. Let them rot over there!
Roseanne; If the tables were turned would not like it if Afghanies were here killing your children, husbands, aunt, uncles etc. Bush sent Drones to indiscreminately kill innocents and now we are paying the price. Give Obama's plan a chance. Please.
O&JOe 12
Damn! When did Obama put Bush in charge of the military ??????
I'm not saying we should completely pull out of the territory, but at least let OUR people be armed in their own barracks and not be so vulnerable to these attacks from within. Arming people who hate us & our presence there & not expecting chaos is extremely unwise & NOT good leadership. You don't have to be a genius to figure that out.
When do you expect us to pay the price for the drones OBAMA has been sending to kill innocents in Pakistan, wakani?
Or is he exempt because his name is Obama?
You are complete fool if you think the US can be exempted from a terrorist attack by anything we do in a foreign country, and so is anyone in the White House.... and I don't give a tinker's damn who he is or what party he is from.
This country is too big, it's shores too vast, its immigration polices non-existent, its infrastructure too vulnerable, its REAL citizens too angry with a non-representative government and a failed corrupt judicial system for it to be protected and safe because of privateer wars waged in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.
The only way to make America safe from terrorism is not by forming bogus agencies like Homeland Security or power plays like the Patriot Act and TSA for despots in the White House... it's by making sure that the citizens of this country have pride and love in America again and want to keep it safe because they believe it's where the future lies for their children and for THEMSELVES... not for sure damn "world order."
I admit I hastily scanned the article trying to find the details on the circumstances of the murder. All I got was the blah blah blah of how difficult it was to be an American or NATO member in friendly Afghanistan.
Did I miss it, or have the news outlets given up embarrassing the government and military incompetents by telling us how these deaths have occurred by "friendly" fire... again?
Condolences... useless, useless, unnecessary, sorrowfull condolences.... to the family and friends.
This is OUTRAGEOUS. Give Cheney, Rumsfeld, Bush, Obama, Romney, and their kids and all the POS politicians and military brass supporting this war each a gun and let THEM go over there and be the targets they are making of our kids in uniform.
That would end this war in a minute. Totally unacceptable. Why isn't the country in an uproar over this? We're sending our kids to be murdered without them having any means to see it coming. Your friends, neighbors, and/or relatives are being slaughtered for not one good f*#king reason. Then we give their government billions of OUR taxpayer money! We pay them to kill our kids! This is insane.
How easy for all our "leaders" to sacrifice our lives for their country.
Patriotism? No. BS. Yes. There should be heads rolling here for this.
It is almost inconceivable that for the half trillion dollars the US spends on defense each year that we should be losing the war in Afghanistan to a bunch of illiterate farmers.
This marks the 11th year we've been embroiled in this conflict. A war, which should have been over in months, not years. Yet here we are, in the longest war in US history being beaten by a bunch of non professional insurgents with no tanks, no helicopters, no submarines, no jet fighters, no aircraft carriers, no HumveeS, no night vision goggles, no combat boots , no bullet proof vests.
Estimates are that the Taliban have about 25,000 hardened fighters. Against them we have (until recently) 70,000 US troops, 20,000 Nato troops, 200,000 afghan security forces and 100,000 military contractors and support staff. That means we outnumber these fighters by 16 to 1.
Yet for all the troops and all the money and all the technology, we are losing this war....just as the Russians lost 25 years ago. Despite our efforts to broker some kind of truce, the Taliban refuse to talk peace.
On top of that it's costing US taxpayers 10 billion dollars a month in Afghanistan
Yet everyday for the past 11 years we have had nothing to show for our efforts but more flag draped coffins
Like Vietnam and Iraq the best solution to end the war is just to leave. We are fighting people who are not afraid to sacrifice their own lives for their cause and as long as they feel that strongly....and we don't....they will never raise the white flag of surrender, lay down their arms and agree to our terms.
Let Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan forever be a reminder to those war hawks. It's easy to start a war; very very difficult to end it
Nuke the poppy fields. That will stop all hostilities in Afghanistan immediately.
Naw, just use Agent Orange, but get our troops out first...
Look the enemy keep changing tactics because nothing they have done has worked, or changed our resolve. But the more we tie our troops hands, the more will die. Untie their hands for 3 months and see the difference. When we stopped doing as much missions, well they simply come to us. Military teaches offencive tactics for a reason. Using only defencive will get you killed. How many years have these people been at war with some country. It is ingrained in their culture. So change the culture , but this will take a long time. And it must not be all about fighting. Troops must interact with the general population to combat the ideas they are being told about the US being there as foreign invaders.
Obama or maybe his name is Barry Soetoro claimed this his war so I guess he has the blood of all or our men and women on his hands but he doesn't really care because he hates America and all what we stand for.
That was evident when those in Lybia attacked the consulate, killed the ambassador, and 3 others, and he apologizes and then runs off to Vegas...
When will the insanity cease?
When Obama is gone.