Afghanistan Steps Up Spying on Own Soldiers to End 'Insider' Attacks - East Idaho News
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Afghanistan Steps Up Spying on Own Soldiers to End ‘Insider’ Attacks

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GETTY W 122911 AfghanNationalArmy?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1345625568478ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images(KABUL, Afghanistan) — With pressure mounting on the Afghan government to do something to curb “insider” attacks on coalition forces, Kabul has intensified its program of spying on their own soldiers and police officers.

“Insider” assaults, also known as “green on blue” attacks, have increased this year, with as many as 10 American soliders killed by Afghan security personnel over a 12-day span — although there’s an acknowledgement that a few of the assailants might have been Taliban infiltrators.

In an effort to find these potential assassins, the Afghan government is sending undercover intelligence officers to mix in with security units throughout the country.

Furthermore, calls between Afghan troops and their families will be more closely monitored, while new recruits are forbidden to use cellphones — a method of possibly contacting enemies of the NATO coalition.

Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff, was in Afghanistan over the past few days to discuss Afghan attempts at halting “insider” attacks.

Gen. Sher Mohammad Karimi, the Afghan army chief of staff, said after meeting Dempsey, “Soldiers must feel that they are under the full surveillance of their leadership at all levels.  Initially, it will have a negative impact on morale, but we have to do something.  We have to look seriously at every individual.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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