August 29, 2012 | KPCC - Southern California's Public Radio

The Patt Morrison Show

 

Though most deaths during the war in Afghanistan have come during NATO and Afghan National forces facing off against the Taliban and al-Qaeda, a rising number of NATO soldiers have been killed from Afghan soldiers turning their guns against, seemingly, ‘their own team.’

According to Newsweek, members of Afghanistan’s security forces have killed 40 soldiers this year, which has surpassed last year’s total of 35. The “green-on-blue killings” have increased since the onset of the war.

According to the Long War Project, insider killings have accounted for 13 percent of NATO casualties in 2012, 6 percent in 2010 and 2011, 3 perecent in 2009, and less than 1 percent in 2008.Reasons for the increase of shootings are unclear.

According to the Long War Journal, US commanders have insisted that attacks are due to “cultural differences between Afghan and Western troops.” Of note is also the Taliban influence in Afghanistan, who have infiltrated members of the Afghan National army and posed as members.

According to CNN, A Department of Defense report in April stated that ” a large majority of green-on-blue attacks are not attributable to insurgent infiltration of the ANSF [Afghan National Security Forces] but are due to isolated personal grievances against coalition personnel.”

Issues:

Afghanistan