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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Jim Miklaszewski joins Lester Holt to discuss the latest on Afghan President Hamid Karzai order that U.S. forces be removed from Wardak province over allegations of torture and disappearances.
Ahmad Jamshid / AP, file
Afghan President Hamid Karzai addesses military officers in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has ordered that all U.S. special forces must leave Wardak province, just west of Kabul, within two weeks — citing allegations of disappearances and torture.
In a statement Sunday, a spokesman for Karzai said, "after a thorough discussion, it became clear that armed individuals named as U.S. special force stationed in Wardak province engage in harassing, annoying, torturing and even murdering innocent people."
Karzai's office cited a "recent example" in which nine people allegedly "disappeared" and a separate incident where a student was taken from his home in the middle of the night and whose tortured body was found two days later under a bridge with his throat cut.
U.S. defense officials strongly deny that military personnel condoned, or were involved in, any kidnappings, torture or murders of Afghan civilians or suspects.
In addition to demanding the U.S. pull out in two weeks, Karzai also demanded the immediate cessation of all international special forces operations in Wardak.
Military officials told NBC News that Karzai's order came as a total surprise. The province is one of the hottest combat zones in Afghanistan and is a strategically important area because it is seen as the gateway the Taliban uses to carry out attacks in Kabul, the war-torn nation's capital.
In response, International Security Assistance Force, which coordinates the multinational coalition in Afghanistan, said "the U.S. Forces Afghanistan is aware of the reporting of presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi's comments today. We take all allegations of misconduct seriously and go to great lengths to determine the facts surrounding them."
The ISAF declined to comment further until they've "had a chance to speak with" senior officials in the Afghan government.
In their statement, the Afghan government noted that "Americans reject having conducted any such operation," but also noted "that such actions have caused local public resentment and hatred."
President Barack Obama announced during his State of the Union address earlier this month that 34,000 American troops -- about half of the total U.S. force in Afghanistan -- will leave the country by the end of this year.
NBC's Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube contributed to this report
Leave a Comment:
The taliban are going to kill him anyway. Doesn't matter how much he tries to help them!
Anyone want to bet that when we leave Karzai ends up working for MSNBC?
ungrateful @!$%#, as soon as we leave the talban will assume control. Or will china step up and fight the talban so the can take care of there business interest. The people dont care about us because they signed all oil and copper rights over to china, our men died for there freedom, and they dont care.
AT least China can beat the Taliban. China is not run by homosexual peace nic's.
"Don't fear the enemy that attacks you but the false friend who embraces you."
What kind of a military would be if we ran every time things got a little tough? We'd be a bunch of GI Joes in Barbie doll outfits.
Ok, that just sounds too cute ;)
I guess mooselims have the monopoly on torture in that region...
That's one way of putting it :) good one.
He'll have a place in the obama white house.
It's still the Whitehouse? They haven't changed it to castle yet?
Probably in charge of torture at Guantanamo.
So if he wants us out, let's just go . . . all of us, now.
Okay, now that is it. Pull all trrops, all equiptment, everything and cut all aid period. If it wasn't for us he would still be a peon.
Put all our resources in countries that may still like us ( with Odumbo, I agree that could be tough to find ) and cut aid to any that don't, I can name a dozen off the top of my head.
Its good anyway you look at it. They will kill their own ( population reduction ) and bankrupt the rest of our enemies supporting them with their money, not ours.
Odumbo won't like it because he can't blame Bush any longer for what Odumbo has clearly failed at ( leadership ), all is good.
We should send Omambo to the Taliban. They could fix him UP...
Mitzy
from your lips to God's ear, oh sh^t. I gonna get it from the left for that one, LMAO, LOL, ROTFLOL, oh god my sides hurt.
Why are we wasting lives and money on this Karzai idiot and his worthless country? While we pull out of Wardak, our people should just keep going until the find themselves in Washington State.
Well, lookee there. The US MIC finally got the gate from somewhere, wore out their welcome! About time, might as well bring all the troops home and let the Afghans settle their own affairs. No Aid or assistance, COD for weapons, best of luck with all that.
seems like we are all on the same page too bad to jerks in Washington won't listen to the people here in America.
I don't read lips, but would someone tell me what Pres. Karzia said I think "USA get your asses out of my country (Afghanistan)." Suits the @!$%# out of me..
If the Obama administration would peruse these comments, maybe he'd bring our folks home..this is stupid
He's probably too busy laughing at some of them :).
That is a great idea, lets pack up all out crap including foreign aid and leave like a date with aids, those ragheads do not need us there.
must be interfering with his opium routes and "mules"
I think that Karzai is at best a suspect president. The U.S. installed him as the country's leader. I also think that he plays on both sides no doubt about it. When U.S. and coalition forces finally pull out his days in power will be numbered. The Taliban already controls most of the country except the capitol Kabul. Stop wasting taxpayer dollars there. Let Karzai run the show with out foreign aide and help.
Let's just re deploy all the troops in Afghanistan to our new war in Mali.
We should pull out all U.S. forces in Afghanistan and see how long Karzai stays in power and alive without us.
I have read most of these posts and it seems to me WE as AMERICANS on both sides agree to get out of that country and let them destroy themselves.
Now if we all can just get the IDIOT IN CHARGE to listen.
He may have hit the perfect point to show leadership and begin to heal this great nation.
Yea, may be to much ask.
Give it a rest, settersperch. Bush got us into this. My God, you Little Limbaugh Republican trolls are so full of hot air.
Great! Let's get out of the entire country tomorrow. We should be using that money for our own infrastructure and for Americans who want education.
Karzai is just one more sleazy third world power monger who will double cross us behind our backs at any moment. Why waste money on him? Bin Laden is dead. Let's get out of there.
So many of you have said in various ways what I'm thinking. Get our troops out, and let that pissant Karzai deal with the Taliban on their terms. This is a mission that can never fully succeed; we will never be able to say that we've completely eliminated the Taliban or AQ in Afghanistan, nor truly subdued them either, particularly when we have 'allies' like Pakistan. Our troops have done some dumb things in the past 11+ years, that pale in comparison to the enemy we're fighting and it's 7th century culture. Bring 'em home! Oh, yeah; and no more US aid dollars to either country. Their value is not so strategic that we have to buy their assistance while they piss all over us.
You're probably right. We might need to buy the assistance of Pakistan a little longer but Afghanistan has got to be just about wrapped up (and written off militarily.) I'm fully in favor of charitable ventures there but the country will need to decide whose side they're on. P.S. Karzai will be in Afghanistan about one week longer than the U.S. He's better be buying that place in Paris soon.
Has everyone forgotten that it was Pakistan that provided knowledge and equipment for North Korea to become a nuclear state? Why does the US call Pakistan and ally and provide aid and support for India's main enemy? Do you think Pakistan could maintain their large military in Kashmir without US aid?
India is BY FAR the better ally to have in this region. They keep China in check and have the largest navy in the region. Unfortunately, supporting Pakistan puts serious constraints on our relationship. Let Iran provide the aid. Oh wait... I bet they hate each other and have their own border skirmishes.
You can probably guess what all this is about from this article at "http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1819"
Afghanistan has significant amounts of undiscovered non-fuel mineral resources according to the U.S. Geological Survey's 2007 assessment, unveiled today at the 3rd annual U.S.-Afghan Business Matchmaking Conference organized by the Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.
Mineral resources present a great source for a country's industrial growth and wealth. Estimates for copper and iron ore resources were found to have the most potential for extraction in Afghanistan. Scientists also found indications of abundant deposits of colored stones and gemstones, including emerald, ruby, sapphire, garnet, lapis, kunzite, spinel, tourmaline and peridot. Other examples of mineral resources available for extraction in Afghanistan include gold, mercury, sulfur, chromite, talc-magnesite, potash, graphite and sand and gravel.
That's the first few paragraphs.
That's what they mean when they say they have resources we need. Its not about fricken war on terror its about getting their minerals.
The odds of these minerals ending up in the US or under US control are very remote. Much more likely is Russia, China and India. I say pull our troops out and let them be forewarned that a lawless anti US country will result in their minerals becoming radioactive and, therefore, worthless.
Remove all U.S. troops overnight.
Another victory for the Obama/Hillary foreign policy team and their "war of necessity." Excellent.