Killing of US soldiers by Afghan troops seen as a systemic threat

Afghanistan News.Net
Friday 17th June, 2011

The killings of American soldiers by Afghan troops are turning into a "rapidly growing systemic threat" that could undermine the entire war effort, according to a classified military study.

The study by Jeffrey Bordin, a political and behavioral scientist working for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, warns that the magnitude of the killings "may be unprecedented between 'allies' in modern history."

According to the Wall Street Journal, it is based on interviews with some 600 Afghan troops. The report concludes that there is a dangerous "crisis of trust" between Afghan forces and American soldiers that is being ignored by top commanders.

Coalition officials say they aren't ignoring the killings, but say that such attacks don't represent a significant threat to the mission.

Afghan troops have killed at least 57 coalition troops since 2007. A few of the attacks have been traced to infiltrators from the Taliban, who are fighting to topple the U.S.-backed government.

The study has been debated in military circles since it was first distributed in early May. (ANI)

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