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US general relieved of duty over remarks on Karzai
Reuters | |
WASHINGTON: Major General Peter Fuller, a top US commander in Afghanistan, was relieved of his duties on Friday after making comments critical of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a senior US defense official said.
US General John Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, relieved Fuller as deputy commander of the effort to train Afghan security forces after Fuller told the Politico newspaper that Afghan leaders were isolated from reality, the official said.
Pentagon spokesman George Little told reporters earlier on Friday that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was aware of the remarks and Fuller had been speaking for himself and not the US Defense Department.
The secretary has full trust and confidence in General Allens judgment with respect to his decision in this case, Little said in response to Allens decision to relieve Fuller of his duties.
Speaking in a Politico interview that ran on Thursday, Fuller depicted Afghan officials as detached and unappreciative of American sacrifices and financial contributions to Afghanistan after 10 years of war.
The interview also depicted Fuller as critical of Karzais recent comments suggesting that Afghanistan would side with Pakistan if it went to war with the United States.
Why dont you just poke me in the eye with a needle! Youve got to be kidding me Im sorry, we just gave you $11.6 billion and now youre telling me, I dont really care?
The interview also quotes Fuller as saying Afghanistan did not recognise the sacrifice in treasure and blood the United States was making for its security.
It is not first time the tenure of an American general has ended abruptly under a similar cloud.
In July 2010, President Barack Obama fired General Stanley McChrystal, then commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, over remarks he and his aides made in an explosive Rolling Stone magazine article that disparaged the president and other civilian leaders.
While Fullers job was far less senior than McChrystals, the training of Afghan security forces has become an increasingly central part of Natos mission in Afghanistan as foreign forces gradually seek to put Afghan soldiers and police in charge of security.
Afghan security forces are far more numerous than they were, and better skilled, but they still suffer from inadequate fighting skills, subpar equipment and widespread illiteracy.
While Obama plans to remove the 33,000 extra troops he sent following a 2009 review of Afghan war strategy, security conditions remain troubling. The United Nations says violence is at its worst level since the war began in 2001.
---------- Post added at 02:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:17 PM ----------
US general sacked over remarks on Karzai
Submitted 3 hrs 16 mins ago
US general sacked over remarks on Karzai | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online
Reuters | |
WASHINGTON: Major General Peter Fuller, a top US commander in Afghanistan, was relieved of his duties on Friday after making comments critical of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a senior US defense official said.
US General John Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, relieved Fuller as deputy commander of the effort to train Afghan security forces after Fuller told the Politico newspaper that Afghan leaders were isolated from reality, the official said.
Pentagon spokesman George Little told reporters earlier on Friday that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was aware of the remarks and Fuller had been speaking for himself and not the US Defense Department.
The secretary has full trust and confidence in General Allens judgment with respect to his decision in this case, Little said in response to Allens decision to relieve Fuller of his duties.
Speaking in a Politico interview that ran on Thursday, Fuller depicted Afghan officials as detached and unappreciative of American sacrifices and financial contributions to Afghanistan after 10 years of war.
The interview also depicted Fuller as critical of Karzais recent comments suggesting that Afghanistan would side with Pakistan if it went to war with the United States.
Why dont you just poke me in the eye with a needle! Youve got to be kidding me Im sorry, we just gave you $11.6 billion and now youre telling me, I dont really care?
The interview also quotes Fuller as saying Afghanistan did not recognise the sacrifice in treasure and blood the United States was making for its security.
It is not first time the tenure of an American general has ended abruptly under a similar cloud.
In July 2010, President Barack Obama fired General Stanley McChrystal, then commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, over remarks he and his aides made in an explosive Rolling Stone magazine article that disparaged the president and other civilian leaders.
While Fullers job was far less senior than McChrystals, the training of Afghan security forces has become an increasingly central part of Natos mission in Afghanistan as foreign forces gradually seek to put Afghan soldiers and police in charge of security.
Afghan security forces are far more numerous than they were, and better skilled, but they still suffer from inadequate fighting skills, subpar equipment and widespread illiteracy.
While Obama plans to remove the 33,000 extra troops he sent following a 2009 review of Afghan war strategy, security conditions remain troubling. The United Nations says violence is at its worst level since the war began in 2001.
---------- Post added at 02:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:17 PM ----------
US general sacked over remarks on Karzai
Submitted 3 hrs 16 mins ago
US general sacked over remarks on Karzai | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online
