3 U.S. service members dead in second "green-on-blue" attack
(CBS/AP) KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan working on an installation shared by Afghan and foreign forces shot and killed three American service members Friday - raising to six the number of U.S. troops killed by their Afghan partners in 24 hours.
In an earlier attack, an Afghan police officer shot and killed three U.S. Marines after sharing a meal with them before dawn Friday in Sangin district of Helmand province.
Coalition spokeswoman Maj. Lori Hodge said Saturday that the three additional foreign service members were gunned down Friday night. The second incident occurred in Garmser district of Helmland province, according to province spokesman Daud Ahmadi
The Taliban claimed responsibility for both of the attacks in Helmand province, located in southern Afghanistan. The province is an area where Taliban insurgents have wielded their greatest influence.
Hodge says the shooters in both attacks have been detained.
The most recent shooting brings the number of "green-on-blue" incidents - in which Afghan security forces turn on their Western allies - to 26 over the last 12 months. Thirty-four coalition service members have now died this year at the hands of Afghan forces or insurgents disguised in Afghan uniforms, according to NATO - a dramatic rise from previous years.
Gen. John Allen, the commander in Afghanistan, said insider attacks are rare compared to the overall number of troops in what's officially called the International Security Assistance Force - ISAF for short.
"Every case where one of these occurs," said Allen, "that same day there are tens of thousands of interactions between the Afghans and ISAF forces that don't go that way."
While the Taliban often claim they have infiltrated the Afghan security forces and are carrying out these attacks, CBS News reporter John Bentley reported in July that a U.S. Defense Department report maintains the attacks are not carried out by insurgents.
"Investigations have determined that a large majority of green-on-blue attacks are not attributable to insurgent infiltration of the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces), but are due to isolated personal grievances against coalition personnel," the report said.
Popular on CBSNews.com
-
One year after Afghan massacre, villagers work with U.S. troops One year after U.S. Staff Sgt. Robert Bales was accused of slaughtering 16 Afghan civilians, the villagers in the town where the atrocity took place have joined the U.S. special forces stationed there to assist in the fight against the Taliban.
- 50th Paris Air Show 19 Photos
- Celebration and devotion in India 14 Photos
- Rare twin birth for gorilla in Dutch zoo Play Video
- John Paul II a step closer to sainthood
- Somali militants wage deadly attack on U.N. office
- Brazil protesters flood Sao Paulo streets for 2nd night
- One of FBI's Ten Most Wanted nabbed in Mexico
- Afghan gov't halts talks with U.S. on security pact
In the Iraq fiasco and Afghanistan, the enemy looks just like the civilians and they reside in the same areas.
The fact that American soldiers had to patrol in those and were not allowed to fire their weapons until, and unless, they were being fired upon, made the fear factor far worse than WW1 or WW2.
That coupled with multiple and prolonged duty tours, drove the post dramatic stress problem to record heights. Now with their so-called "comrades in arms" randomly killing them, today's soldiers are facing even worse stress.
That is a major reason the draft, with no religious or other personal choice deferments allowed should be required by law.
If the wealthy and/or their son and daughters were equally subjected to the draft, all of these unnecessary "wars" would be avoided, and the Iraqi fiasco would never have happened.
In the Iraq fiasco and Afghanistan, the enemy looks just like the civilians and they reside in the same areas.
The fact that American soldiers had to patrol in those areas and were not allowed to fire their weapons until, and unless, they were being fired upon, made the fear factor far worse than in WW1 or WW2.
That coupled with multiple and prolonged duty tours, drove the post dramatic stress problem to record heights.
And now, with their so-called "comrades in arms" randomly killing them, today's soldiers are facing even worse stress.
That is a major reason the draft, with no religious or other personal-choice deferments allowed should be required by law.
If the wealthy (like Romney) and/or their sons and daughters were equally subjected to the draft, all of these unnecessary "wars" would be avoided, and the Iraqi fiasco would never have happened.
Obama can compromise on every single issue and the GOP will spin it either way.
Good point at the end, about profiteering...
When is our government going to learn you cannot trust these filthy savages any further than you can throw the White House.??!!!
"Our troops are safe in Afghanistan".
Like hell they are.!
6 American troops killed by Afghan police officers or troops in 24 hours.!
Does that sound like our troops are safe to you.???
If Obama wants to continue the fighting in Afghanistan, bring out troops home and send him, Congress, the DOD and the people in the Pentagon over their and let them fight our battles.
This way; there will be no more American blood on their hands except their own.!!!!!
Do you recall those?
Sounds like you're a Liberal... :)
Oh, wait, you're a Republican?