International
U.S. Major General Killed By Insider Attack In Afghanistan
(This post was last updated at 12:57 p.m. ET.)
i i Massoud Hossaini / AP Massoud Hossaini / AP
An attacker wearing an Afghan military uniform opened fire at service members of the NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing a U.S. major general.
A United States official tells NPR's Tom Bowman that 15 others — including a German brigadier general and other coalition forces — were wounded by one shooter using a light machine gun at the Marshal Fahim National Defense University in Kabul City.
The New York Times reports:
"The Afghan official and a coalition official said that it appeared that the foreign casualties were high-ranking officers who were taking part in a meeting at the academy. "Lt. Gen. Afzal Aman, the director of operations at Afghanistan's Defense Ministry, said that the academy's commander, Brig. Gen. Ghulam Saki, was wounded in the shooting along with two other senior Afghan officers. "General Aman added that it was only American officers who were present during the shooting, but said that he could not provide any additional details because the entire academy was under lockdown and information remained scarce."
Tom reports that this insider attack is one of the bloodiest during the Afghan war, and the major general is the highest-ranking official to be killed during the war.
CNN, quoting the Afghan military, says the shooter was killed by Afghan soldiers.
We'll update this post once we know more.
Update at 12:47 p.m. ET. A Pernicious Threat:
During his regularly scheduled press briefing, Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said while the investigation into the incident is just beginning, they have no reason to believe that the suspected shooter was anything but a part of the Afghan military.
Kirby said that as terrible as today was, insider attacks have been decreasing in Afghanistan. He said that at the time of the attack, security measures intended curb insider attacks had been instituted.
"The insider threat is a pernicious threat that's difficult to ascertain," Kirby said.
Kirby was asked if this incident would diminish trust between coalition forces and the Afghan military.
Kirby said no. He said that the Afghan military has had an otherwise very good year, helping to secure two big elections.
"This is a security force that grows stronger by the week," Kirby said.
Update at 11:31 p.m. ET. The Location Of The Shooting:
In a statement, ISAF says they misnamed the location of the shooting. It took place at the Marshal Fahim National Defense University in Kabul City, not Camp Qargha as they originally reported.
We've updated this post to reflect that information.
Update at 10:50 a.m. ET. German Brigadier General:
Quoting the German military, The Associated Press reports a German brigadier general was injured in the attack.
The AP also has some background on the officer academy:
Photo of Harold J. Greene 
    was killed yesterday afternoon in an apparent  or 'green on blue' attack at the  on the outskirts of , . His death marks the first death of a United States general since the  and the first on foreign soil since the . Along with the death of Major General Greene, fifteen others were wounded in the attack including a German , eight US soldiers, a number of  soldiers, and three Afghan soldiers.

The attack started during a routine visit, when an individual, reportedly an  soldier, opened fire with a light assault rifle from inside a building, 100  (90 ) away from where Greene and others were standing. Soldiers fired back and killed the attacker. The Pentagon Press Secretary,   John Kirby, said, "There are a number of casualties as a result of the shooting, perhaps up to 15, to include some Americans". Kirby added, "Many were seriously wounded. Others received only minor injuries. The assailant was killed."

An  spokesperson, General Mohammad Zahir Azimi, said the attacker was a "terrorist dressed in an Afghan army uniform." The  acknowledged the attack and praised it, but did not claim responsibility for it.

Greene was serving as deputy commanding general of the  at the time of his death. He was previously Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management in the office of the . Greene joined the Army as an officer in 1980 after graduating from .

In a statement  General  gave his condolences, saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with Maj. Gen. Harold J. Greene's family, and the families of our soldiers who were injured today in the tragic events that took place in Afghanistan. These soldiers were professionals, committed to the mission. It is their service and sacrifice that define us as an Army."


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