A two-star US General has been killed in Afghanistan, according to ABC News, which appears to be the highest-ranked US officer KIA since The Vietnam War. The attack took place in the relative safety of the officers academy at Camp Qargha, Kabul, when a gunman wearing an Afghan army uniform apparently turned his weapon against Americans and other Afghans. In addition to the US general's death, a German brigadier general was injured along with 15 other ISAF personnel. Afghan President Karzai said the attack was "an act by the enemies who don’t want to see Afghanistan have strong institutions."
As ABC reports, [5]
The Pentagon confirmed to ABC News today that in addition to one fatality, 15 International Security Assistance Force personnel were injured. Karzai said that both Afghan and foreign soldiers were hurt.
Gen. Mohammmad Zahir Azimi, a spokesman for Afghanistan's Defense Ministry, tweeted in Dari that the gunman was wearing an Afghan military uniform and was shot dead after opening fire on Afghan and international colleagues.
The soldiers were visiting the military academy to help with the buildup of Afghan security forces, Karzai said. He blamed the attack on "enemies who don't want to see Afghanistan have strong institutions."
Qargha, which is overseen by the British military, is sometimes called "Sandhurst in the sand" - a reference to the British military's own officers' training school.
[6]
"We are in the process of assessing the situation," the ISAF Joint Command said in a statement. "More information will be released as we sort out the facts."
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Sadly, NBC News reports, officials said the death toll is expected to rise given the severity of troops’ injuries.
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Perhaps it is not yet time to turn the page on war in Afghanistan, Mr.President.
