The sting of subjugation: 'Green on blue' attacks in Afghanistan

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http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/09/2012910101359505641.html


Every Afghan knows "they are occupied"; every Afghan feels keenly "the embarrassed sting of subjugation" [AFP]


The scheduled US and NATO exit from Afghanistan in 2014 depends upon training sufficient Afghan security forces. That is why the sharp increase in so-called "Green on Blue" attacks is of such concern to coalition commanders.

These are incidents in which Afghan militia, police and army trainees turn on their NATO trainers. So far this year, 45 coalition soldiers have been killed in this fashion, a fifth of all coalition casualties, up from 35 in all of 2011 and 20 in 2010. Fifteen were killed last month alone.

Some training programmes have been temporarily stopped. NATO trainers have fortified their compounds against their own students. When training is under way, one coalition soldier-known as a guardian angel-keeps his weapon locked and loaded at all times ready to protect his comrades. These are not arrangements likely to encourage trust or learning.

US commanders insist that the attacks are not the result of Taliban infiltration of Afghan security forces but arise instead from personal grievances and cultural misunderstandings between Afghan trainees and NATO soldiers.