The psychological effects of trainees turning their weapons on their trainers is devastating to American troops and the 40 coalition partners in the country
Afghan Forces Turning Against Their U.S. Trainers
By Heritage Foundation Amy Payne——Bio and Archives--August 22, 2012
American troops in Afghanistan face an increased threat from “insider” attacks in which the Afghan forces they are there to help and train are turning their guns on their American partners, raising serious questions about the viability of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.
The attacks, which have killed 40 U.S. and NATO troops so far this year, are also referred to as “green-on-blue attacks,” because Afghan forces’ uniforms are green and allied forces’ uniforms are blue.
Who are the Afghan security forces? While the Afghan Army leaders are professional and committed to working with their American counterparts, the recruits are mostly rural, illiterate men who can become disgruntled by cultural differences with their American trainers or susceptible to insurgent bribes or intimidation. U.S. military officials attribute only about 10 percent of the insider attacks to Taliban infiltration, despite Taliban claims of responsibility for most of the attacks.
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