Green-on-Blue perpetrator sentenced to death
The LA Times reports that the Afghan who murdered four French soldiers earlier this year has been sentenced to death by an Afghan court for his blue-on-green attack. The murder influenced France’s new president, François Hollande, to announce the country’s early withdrawal from the fight in Afghanistan. It’s odd because if the murderer had been tried in France, he could have been assured that he wouldn’t be sentenced to death. But apparently, the Afghans think this would have a chilling effect on prospective green-on-blue attackers.
Of course, “human rights activists” are up in arms about the process of the trial;
The sentencing, which took place Monday in a military court convened in Kabul’s main prison, drew criticism from human rights groups because of the lack of due process for those accused of capital crimes. A Defense Ministry spokesman, Gen. Zahir Azimy, refused to provide any further details about the case, including whether a date had been set for execution.
Yeah, well, let’s talk about the “due process” the murderer allowed for his victims. What I want to know is why is this guy still alive? He killed four people and I’m guessing that none of them were armed otherwise he might have shot one or two before the others gunned him down. And that seems to be the case with all of these shootings. 80 casualties so far this year from green-on-blue attacks.
While NATO has decided that soldiers working with Afghans can now turn their desks to face the door as a defensive measure, it seems to me that a more common sense preventative action like allowing NATO troops to be armed, locked and loaded, when working with Afghans almost seems like too much common sense to bear.
Category: Terror War
Guys,
In my experience only the NATO partners actually subscribe to this rule. At best it gets lip service from US troops at the super FOBs where there are no Afghan partners. American forces that have any interaction with Afghans or go outside the wire in any capacity, at least here in our AO, have one in the chamber at all times. On our COP (which is joint) we are seperated from our “allies” at night, and US guards are posted, who watch the Afghan Security guards who are theoretically supposed to be protecting us. Hell of a war.
NATO: No Action; Talk Only.
Say g’night, Dick.
NATO: Nothing Allowed To Operate
Marines Lt. Col. Benjamin Palmer and Sgt Kevin Balduf were shot and killed a couple months ago by Afghan soldier. Also about a year ago a couple Marines on post were killed by soldier who was apparent Taliban sympathizer. No end to this until we leave.
Middle East expert on Fox News described Afghans as lacking conflict resolution skills. They know our curse words and have difficulty taking “constructive criticism” from trainers in stride. Things become personal and fester. We can lead, but can’t force them to drink – this isn’t ending well.
Wait a minute – he got a trial, right? That IS due process. (Acknowledging “Silverado” : “We’re going to give you a fair trial, followed by a first-rate hanging” or something close to that.)
It was Frenchmen who were shot, so even if they were armed, they likely threw their weapons down and surrendered once they heard the first shot fired.
Fun story. I was in the TOC one day and we had a report that our ABP was in a TIC. As we are looking in to it we get reports from our ANA that they are also in a TIC… at the same location. The Battle Captain informed the Captain of the Green on Green and asked him if he wanted to send guys out to try and stop it (since communicating with the Afghans is difficult at the best of times, and it was also at night) and he said “Fuck THAT! I’m not getting my guys shot to try and save these idiots. They’ll figure it out eventually.”
Ahhh, good times.
Human rights activists think “due process at trial” translates as “room and board until natural death, or early release, whichever comes first.” It has nothing to do with justice being served.
The French soldiers died serving their country in support of a US led NATO mission. SGT Awesome proves he is a real tool by his comments about them. Qu’il repose en paix.
RIP to the French soldiers.
I was in Afghanistan in 2006-07 and then we didn’t see too much of a resolution for Afghanistan’s future. My interpreters assured me that as soon as we pulled out, many of the Afghan leadership would simply put their Taliban hats back on.