U.S.: Killing of Afghans won't alter war plans

U.S. soldiers keep watch at the entrance of a military base near Alkozai village, following the shooting of Afghan civilians allegedly committed by a U.S. soldier in Panjwayi district, Kandahar province, March 11, 2012. / JANGIR/AFP/Getty Images

Last Updated 2:12 p.m. ET

(CBS/AP) WASHINGTON - The Pentagon's chief spokesman said the basic war strategy in Afghanistan will not change despite the mass killing of Afghan civilians, allegedly by an American soldier.

Spokesman George Little called the killings a deplorable but "isolated incident."

Little told reporters Monday there is "every indication" that the killings were perpetrated by a single individual "acting on his own." He would not identify the soldier or provide other information about his unit, and could offer no explanation for how or why the killings took place.

Little said the shootings had "no demonstrable impact at this stage" on the relationship with the Afghan military.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Monday afternoon that the U.S. and its NATO allies are still on course to hand over security control to the Afghans at the end of 2014. Carney said the pace of withdrawal will depend on a variety of factors, but he would not say whether the weekend incident was among those that would be considered.

CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports the suspect, who is being questioned, was serving his first tour in Afghanistan but had served several times in Iraq. He was part of what's called a village stabilization program in Afghanistan, in which troops work to develop close ties with village leaders.

He is in custody at a NATO base in Afghanistan.

Slaughter of Afghans leaves U.S. in bind
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Shooting suspect from "most troubled" U.S. base

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu also called the shooting an "isolated incident," but one that is a blow to the alliance's efforts to cultivate trust.

Nonetheless, Lungescu said it will not affect the timeline to hand over security operations to the Afghans by the end of 2014.

Canada's Defense Minister Peter MacKay says NATO's "work will not be deterred by a random and cowardly act of violence."

[maz_beachbum]

Vote Ron Paul 2012 and our men and women of the military will be home quickly. We do not need to be the world's watchdogs any longer, period.

[Rodeo_Joe]

Murdering children and burning Korans. Plans?

[READITBOB]

Don't meddle cont.....
What I meant to say is (in earlier post)

This is a long -- very long 2000 year battle... they have been arguing since ali baba
and 2000 years later they are still fighting -- and now we are involved

[READITBOB]

We should not meddle

leave - knowing we tried to assist them but their culture of 2000 warfare is not going to be chg'd by usa meddling

WE have built roads there - that are damaged daily from landminds

We have built wastewater treatment plants and distribution facitilies that have co$t the US taxpayers billions

This money is subtracted from our paychecks and our children will be paying future taxes for what we are Spending There TOday

WHY? why are we doing this.

I have lived and learned - don't meddle in other's business
it is a COSTly mistake


.

[Skruffy1]

It's over for us in Afghanistan. Limit our losses and get out now. We are not wanted there, and our troops are getting crazy. This cannot end well.

[jollychap123]

A better title would be: "Killing of Afghans won't alter
lack of war plans."

[RichZubaty]

Was this one of those unknown unknowns? Or is it Obama's My Lai? We of the Vietnam generation told him this would happen four years ago! Finally he's done what only Nixon and LBJ before him could do -- shame us in the eyes of the entire world. He's a schoolboy. He's been president for three years and he's just getting his bounce pass down. How come when the Taliban cut off some woman's nose we indict the entire Afghan nation? But when our soldier shoots kids in the mouth it's a freak incident? He's just a bad apple? We are a hum drum nation with slick rationalizations for every disaster we create and we are doomed, unless we get REAL leadership. And that is not going to come from the current crop of Democrats and Republicans. Third Party now!

[bradkt1]

The best war plan is to leave Afghanistan...NOW!

[csa1202]

alot of horrible things going on with the US military of late. I feel that the Commander in Chief of the US Militiary should resign. Not doing a good job of leading.

[ConSense]

Look out, csat - the deluge of angry liberal insults will be ensuing. They can criticize Bush at every turn, but NOBODY insults St. Obama!

[Rodeo_Joe]

Turn the scumbag over to the angry mob - asap.