U.S. troop killed, "insider" escapes after latest attack in Afghanistan

AP

Updated at 4:08 a.m. Eastern

(CBS/AP) KABUL, Afghanistan - Two men in Afghan police uniforms shot at U.S. troops in southern Afghanistan Sunday, killing one and injuring another, Afghan security officials tell CBS News..

ISAF, the international military coalition in Afghanistan, confirmed the latest "insider attack" took place in Spin Boldak, in Kandahar province, on Sunday evening, but would not confirm the nationalities of Western forces who came under attack.

Sunday's shooting brings to 32 the number of reported green-on-blue, or insider attacks in 2012. At least 40 coalition forces have been killed in such incidents this year, including 26 Americans.

At least ten Western forces have been killed in insider attacks in just two weeks.

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One of the attackers was killed on Sunday when ISAF troops returned fire, but the other escaped the scene, according to an ISAF spokesperson.

The surge in violence by Afghan allies against their international partners has raised doubts about the ability of the two forces to work together at a key transition time. Afghan forces are expected to take over security for the country by the end of 2014, when the majority of international combat forces are scheduled to leave.

The shooting comes just days after a statement released by the head of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Omar, claiming that militants had successfully infiltrated Afghan security forces to carry out such attacks.

The Taliban often claim responsibility for green-on-blue attacks, which the U.S. military recently began referring to officially as "insider" incidents, but the Pentagon maintains the attacks are not generally not carried out by insurgents, but rather individual members of the Afghan security forces who may develop a grudge against their Western allies.

On Saturday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta called Afghan President Hamid Karzai to encourage him to work with U.S. commanders to ensure more rigorous vetting of Afghan recruits.

On Friday it was disclosed that U.S. troops have been ordered to carry loaded weapons at all times in Afghanistan, even when they are on their bases, as a precaution against such attacks.

Panetta announced last week that new counter-intelligence measures had been adopted during the past year to try and prevent the green-on-blue attacks. While he acknowledged that some of the incidents have been connected to insurgent groups, he maintained that the vast majority appear to be carried out by individuals with no known links to, or coordination with, the Taliban or other militant organizations.

Even the Taliban leader conceded in his written statement that not all of the attacks were carried out by his militants, but he expressed his appreciation to the "conscious Afghans in the rank and files of the enemy," some of whom, he claimed, had gone on to "join the ranks of Mujahideen, carrying their heavy and light weapons and ammunition."

U.S. military officials say the majority of suspects in the insider incidents are killed or captured soon after they turn their weapons on their colleagues, but some have escaped, such as the suspect in Sunday's shooting.

In conjunction with Afghan commanders, the U.S. has used an eight-point vetting process to try and identify and exclude Afghan recruits who pose a threat, but neither Panetta nor other U.S. commanders have elaborated on what new steps are being taken, or can be taken, to confront the problem.

Standing now at 40, the number of international forces killed in green-on-blue attacks in 2012 has already surpassed the toll from all of 2011, when 35 Western forces were killed.

In central Afghanistan, meanwhile, three NATO service members were killed Sunday when a vehicle struck a roadside bomb, officials said. Bamiyan Gov. Habiba Sarabi said the blast went off in Kohmard district while the troops were out on patrol. Afghan security forces tell CBS News the troops were from New Zealand.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.

Including Sunday's deaths, at least 41 international troops have been killed so far this month in Afghanistan.

[Porkx]

Also, the statment "At least ten Western forces have been killed in insider attacks in just two weeks" suggests that ten entire armies have been wiped out in the last two weeks.

[Porkx]

Troop, in the singular, refers to a cavalry unit equivalent to a company in the infantry or a battery in the field artillery, not an individual. An individual servicemember, depending upon his branch of service, is correctly referred to as a soldier, sailor, marine, or airman. In the event that the branch of service is not known (which would suggest lazy reporting), you may use the terms "serviceman" or "servicemember."

[quincytodd]

This also went on in France and other European countries during WW2 under German occupation. The Afghans apparently don't want foreign rule, either. We must end our vulgar occupation of that country, once and for all! This obscene aggressive foreign policy of ours must be terminated as it only leads to war and heartache!

[TLUnrine]

I would have a grudge against a colonial power occupying my own country too.

We DID shoot the British didn't we? Enemy is a two-way term. It just doesn't mean Taliban. Enemy from the Afghan viewpoint is the occupying powers.

And we expect NOT to be SHOT? Really?

American military will be paranoid now, leading up to a mass killing of civilians - covered up of course by the powers that be by throwing down a few AKs to make it look legit.

[quincytodd]

Well stated, TL. This obscene occupation of ours must end and soon, too!

[Topkitty27]

Sounds like you have experience with drugs so I won't debate that.
Republicans are the American Taliban and have been destroying
the U.S.A. from the inside, since before they hired the actor Ronald Reagan to dupe a generation into believing "trickle down(on)economics" would help working Americans.
It really only helped real estate investors (read: too lazy and/or incompetent for actual work)to buy properties that people worked all their life for at pennies on the dollar.
The life savings and benefits of the American Middle-Class are now paying wages in China at a fraction of the cost of the American dream.
It's a no brain-er if you don't care that our Country or the Earth doesn't survive. After all, a book written 2000 years ago gives white MEN the right to do whatever they decide is in the best interest of the Universe and other white folks. The rest of humanity and their opinions are disposable in the eyes of God.
To do anything else would be like allowing women to vote or colored people in the front door. It just ain't natural....

[norulers]

When will murdering, occupying, USG imperialists finally get the message?
GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!
The Afghans hate your guts and livers!
GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!
Now, now, now, yes, NOW!

[netjunkie1]

The US is far from an occupying force in Afghanistan.
Getting out is far from happening.
I would prefer to get out of Pakistan, and bomb it.

[credibility2]

Why isn't the president leading and doing something about this, even if it only means his getting before a teleprompter to mumble. Is he afraid of repercussions down the line that might impact his re-election bid? Clearly there is a problem and it's not being addressed and more than likely because the president has ordered our military leaders not to change their strategy or do anything to prevent this increasing attacks on our forces.

[netjunkie1]

We have vital interests in Afghanistan. It would be unfortunate to have to leave it. Criminal President Bush/Cheney started this mess, under the guise of Al Quada, Taliban, and getting Bin Laden.

Since then, pipelines were negotiated, Bin Laden is dead, and Afghanistan wants the Taliban out as well...
we have common interests on that.

It was also discovered that the mountains are laden with high consentrations of lithium.

If it takes wiping out vast numbers than so be it. We want our batteries...

As for extremist religion. They are all lies. All of them. The is more blood shed over religion than politics.

[TLUnrine]

netjunkie1 - define vital interests? oil reserves? uranium reserves? Oh those poppie fields maybe.

[gerhardiii]

As long as you have idiot Political agenda running the "show"...then expect this to happen... American political system is corrupt, egotistical, stupid, self-serving..so train the enemy so they can kill you..and keep telling yourself and the world its in your own best interests.......You deserve it!

[netjunkie1]

There are very few that can see inside the hearts and minds of men.
The murders recently have come from traitors.
I expect the murderers to be caught and imprisoned and executed for war crimes.

I have another flag and quran to burn.

[TLUnrine]

netjunkie1 - traitors? An afghan killing an occupying foreign military force would be a patriot.

But then you probably still believe there were WMDs in Iraq - a country which kicked the U.S. out of it too - oh, well claimed a victory - but it was a loss. We didn't establish the bases that the industrial-military complex wanted to have established.

But back to traitor.

One man's terrorist/traitor is another man's patriot. Only history and which side you were on determines the difference.