Another Afghan police officer opened fire on American troops on Thursday, injuring two of them in the latest indication that Washington’s claim that the training mission is going well is a lie.
Also on Friday, it was revealed that an elite Afghan soldier shot dead an American trainer and his translator at a U.S. base on Wednesday. This is the first such rogue attack reported to have been carried out by the “closely vetted” special forces of Afghanistan.
Deadly shootings between Afghan soldiers and their American counterparts has increased markedly in occurrence, especially over the last year. Which is why the Wall Street Journal’s report almost a year ago on a leaked NATO document on the training mission in Afghanistan is so revealing. It said “the killings of American soldiers by Afghan troops are turning into a ‘rapidly growing systemic threat’ that could undermine the entire war effort.” And that was a year ago.
U.S. and Afghan authorities claim that both attacks occurred after verbal altercations between the Afghan and American soldiers. Further details are not known, however. In the Thursday event, two additional Afghan police were killed in the ensuing gun battle, although only one was reported to have shot at Americans.
The training mission continues to be the most central part of the war and it is failing miserably. Not only do Afghan soldiers have no qualms about shooting at U.S. soldiers, but they are a pathetic security force in and of themselves.
I beg to differ. That money is not going to waste, in fact, the Empire and it's USan mercenaries are training the Afghans and giving them the weapons to kill them.
A good number of the people that enlist to fight over there- are infused with Anti Muslim views- they hate these people- not there to help- and the Afghans know it. Not surprised by the reaction of these Afghan soldiers at all.
"…they are a pathetic security force in and of themselves."
I disagree. Afghan men, as a group, are courageous, fierce, dedicated, skilled fighters, with a martial tradition dating back several thousand years.
What is going on here is that, in a country ravaged by invasion and war by foreign forces, the "Afghan Army" is both a paycheck and a way for military age Afghan males to avoid being killed by the Americans. A very smart tactical move. These "rented" fighters don't give a damn for the puppet govt. That was always bedrock. Not subject to imperial delusion. Not as stupid as Americans.
When US combat troops dwindle, the "Afghan Army" will be arm in arm with the Taliban, and whatever Westerners remain will be running for their lives to the roof-top helicopters evacuating Western Embassies.
That was always the way it was going to end. The MIC was pleased as punch to do as directed, because win or lose, they still collect their gobs of money.
As Yogi Berra supposedly said – "it is deja'vu all over again" – shades of Vietnam.
Yes, the pathetic fascist amerikan empire is on its downhill slide. The enormous suffering imperialist amerika has caused, since its inception, is bring the empire to a much deserved end !
The DoD has identified fourteen U.S. soldiers that have died in Afghanistan in four days between April 23rd and the 27th.
Ideal situacion for whole world would be when: Shootings between Israel soldiers and their American counterparts starts to be daily rutine…. nothing is imposible. The only two state sponsored terrorism armies against each other….Headlines in free world would read: "Axis of evil on planet Earth destroyed each other… WORLD can start work on UNIVERSAL PEACE
interesting: "two additional Afghan police were killed in the ensuing gun battle, although only one was reported to have shot at Americans."
So the reason for this is known too.
Mass killing education by killer games seems not to be very effective. Good in killing but dumb idiots.
I can imagine the verbal altercation. "Allahu Akbar" and "don't shoot!"
If America were occupied by Russia or China and a puppet government were training a puppet security foce loyal to the Russians here would you be part of the "security" force killing the Russians whenever you could or a crass racist neo-con keyboard warrior defending imperialism like you are now.
Show, other foot, wear it!
In the old times when crusaders invaded a Muslim country, the soldiers of the country under attack or occupation had the duty to fight the enemy. Now they’re killing their enemy selectively, once in a while, soldier by soldier, what gives?