Joint Chiefs Chairman in Afghanistan to Discuss ‘Insider’ Attacks
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SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images(KABUL, Afghanistan) — Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, landed in Afghanistan Monday, where he will meet with senior officials to discuss the wave of so-called “insider” or “green on blue” attacks that have left at least 10 U.S. soldiers dead over the last two weeks.
The most recent incident came on Sunday, when an Afghan policeman on patrol with American troops turned his weapon on them, killing one U.S. service member.
So far this year, there have been 32 “green on blue” attacks resulting in 40 deaths — far more than 2011’s 21 total attacks.
As a result, the U.S. military has changed its policy on arming its service members, ordering that troops now be armed at all times, inside and outside their bases.
The Obama administration has also urged Afghan President Hamid Karzai to order his military and police to conduct better background checks of enlistees. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta spoke directly with Karzai over the weekend about his matter, asking the Afghan leader to coordinate a new system of vetting with Gen. John Allen, commander of all NATO troops in Afghanistan.
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