The Insider Attacks

"The tally is modest by the standards of war historically, but every fatality is a tragedy and 11 years is too long.  All that is internalized,however, in an American public that has been watching this campaign for a long time.  More newsworthy right now are the insider attacks and the sense of hopelessness they convey to many."
Michael O'Hanlon, fellow, Brookings Institutute, Washington

ISAF/NATO's allies in Afghanistan, the allies that keep international troops and diplomats and human rights organizations in the country, have been demonstrating their allegiance and appreciation for the sacrifices that foreign countries have been making on behalf of trying to assist Afghanistan into becoming a normal, well-functioning country with a decent future for its people.  The spate of Afghan army and police attacks against American and NATO troops keep taking everyone by surprise.

So far this year 52 Americans and other NATO troops have been consistently disabused of any tendency to feel complacent about the situation in Afghanistan.  Being attacked by those for whom one's efforts are unstinting, through the commitment to train and aid, doesn't quite appear like fair recompense for the effort.  "We have to get on top of this.  It is a very serious threat to the campaign", fretted U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey.

On the other hand, the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan says it differently: "I'm mad as hell about them, to be honest with you.  It reverberates everywhere across the United States.  You know, we're willing to sacrifice a lot for this campaign, but we're not willing to be murdered for it."

So what're you going to do about it, then?  The latest incident saw two Americans, one military, one civilian dead, and three Afghan military.  And it just happened to represent a miscommunication.  The fighting began when insurgents attacked a checkpoint with mortars.  The Americans interpreted the attack as coming from allies at a nearby Afghan army checkpoint, and that's where they fired back.

So, of course the Afghans returned fire.  "After a short conversation took place between (Afghan army) and ISAF personnel, firing occurred which resulted in the fatal wounding of an ISAF soldier and the death of his civilian colleague", the coalition explained.  The three Afghan soldiers died "In an ensuing exchange of fire".

Not one of those 'insider' attacks.  But there's likely plenty more to come on the near horizon, mad as hell or not.  Lots of room for error and misunderstandings in this war as has been well proven, as well, and more of that to come likely too.