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Afghanistan
Nato officers shot dead in Kabul ministry building
2012-02-25
Two Nato officers have been killed inside the interior ministry in the Afghan capital Kabul, coalition officials say.

The International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) confirmed the deaths but would not reveal the nationalities.

However, Afghan security officials said they were an American colonel and major. Local media reports suggest the incident followed a "verbal clash".

The ministry has been put in lock-down, officials say.

The shootings come amid five days of deadly protests across the country over the burning of copies of the Koran by US soldiers.

Kunduz deaths
"An individual turned his weapon against International Security Assistance Force service members in Kabul city today", the Isaf statement said.

Angry protests erupted in Kunduz on Saturday over the Koran burnings
Isaf spokesman Brig Gen Carsten Jacobson told the BBC that Nato could not yet release details of the nationalities of those killed.

Early reports suggest the two were shot in the ministry's command and control centre.

Angry protests over the burning of the Korans continued on Saturday, with a UN compound in the city of Kunduz set alight.

Four people were killed and dozens injured in clashes in the city, according to local doctors. Three more people were killed in the southern province of Logar.

More than 20 have died since the protests began on Tuesday.

On Friday Nato's Afghanistan commander Gen John Allen had appealed for calm.

US personnel apparently inadvertently put the books into a rubbish incinerator at Bagram air base, near Kabul.
Posted by:Willy

#11  It's time to demand an apology and reparations from the Afghans. If not forthcoming we leave, immediately.

After they kill Karzai and dismember his family we dronezap selected bad guys when they go back into the terrorism business.

We dronezap Hekmatyar on GPs.
Posted by: Fred   2012-02-25 20:49  

#10  It may have little if anything to do with war in AFG or the holy book burning. It may have everything to do with Iranian or Pakistani intelligence and a well rehearsed professional hit by personnel wearing AFG Army uniforms using supressed Markarovs. We may never know about this one.

Link
Posted by: Besoeker   2012-02-25 18:17  

#9  Again its about defining winning. Winning is leaving the opponent in a position not to mess with you again. That could have been achieved by backing a tribe or a number of tribes to keep the others so engrossed in just maintaining their interests as to be ineffective in doing anything else but treading water.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2012-02-25 15:05  

#8  I have supported the war in Afghanistan from the beginning. However, I have reached the point that I think we should get out ASAP. The Taliban will see this as a victory, since they "chased" us out.

However, I don't think it is possible to "win" in Afghanistan, even if we could define what "winning" is. On the other hand, we should probably warn Afghanistan and Pakistan that the next time we come back, we won't have any troops on the ground unless they are in radiation protective suits.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia   2012-02-25 14:36  

#7  I concur with the "scorched earth" approach. Then - "make the rubble bounce".

Posted by: Lone Ranger   2012-02-25 13:55  

#6  I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
Posted by: Ripley   2012-02-25 13:51  

#5  Oh, and to do nothing, Obama's preferred strategy, will make things far worse.

Remember General Elphinstone. That sort of disaster is exactly what the Taliban want.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2012-02-25 12:07  

#4  I think that the Taliban have sensed weakness with the US apology. They are right. If we had deployed some of those microwave anti-riot devices they would just be peachy. But not having them, we will have to hose the murderous crowd or run away like frightened small animals.

Either way, the Taliban wins.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2012-02-25 12:06  

#3  I agree with bman
Posted by: 3dc   2012-02-25 12:03  

#2  Destroy every mosque during Friday prayers and then fight everyone that wants to stop us from leaving.
Posted by: bman   2012-02-25 10:37  

#1  However, Afghan security officials said they were an American colonel and major. Local media reports suggest the incident followed a "verbal clash".

Excuse me, but I feel like going out on the porch, leaning over the rail, and throwing up!
Posted by: Besoeker   2012-02-25 10:30  

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