"ISAF commander General John Allen told US 60 Minutes program in an interview recorded before the latest incident, and scheduled to be aired today, that insider attacks were unacceptable.
"I'm mad as hell about them, to be honest with you," he said. "We're willing to sacrifice a lot for this campaign, but we're not willing to be murdered for it."
Gen Allen said that just as homemade bombs had become the signature weapon of the Iraq war, he believed that in Afghanistan, "the signature attack that we're beginning to see is going to be the insider attack"." Heraldsun
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OK. He's "mad as hell." So what? Perhaps he should move on. NATO command in Brussels has been suggested as a destination for him. There he will find "natives" who like "frites with mayo" and who are not offended by seeing their colleagues naked in the showers, or by swearing and who may not be offended by personal family questions about their womenfolk. Belgians are more used to our "brutish ways" and make allowances for Americans, Australians, Germans, etc., well, maybe not the Germans.
Having spent many years learning laboriously a whole and very full menu of do's and don'ts in the Islamic World I find all this to be a sick joke. The Army and USMC have spent decades and much effort to produce officers who are career specialists in Islamic and Arab affairs. Such officers don't make stupid mistakes like asking a Muslim to see a picture of his wife or even asking about her (them).
Have any of these specialist men or women been given a significant command in these wars? If they have I have not heard of the event. Instead the general officer of the line caste prefers to install in command people like themselves but often incapable of dealing with the "natives."
Allen is "mad as hell?" Me too, I am mad as hell that this political marine is in charge out there rather than someone competent. pl
