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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Obama sticks to Afghanistan transition plan despite green-on-blue attacks | Obama sticks to Afghanistan transition plan despite green-on-blue attacks |
| (30 days later) | |
| US president Barack Obama declared on Monday that he was sticking to his war strategy of using US troops to advise and mentor Afghan forces, despite a growing number of Afghan military attacks on foreign troops. In the past 10 days, there have been seven "green-on-blue attacks, with Afghan forces killing nine Americans. For the year there have been 32 such incidents, killing 40, compared to 21 attacks killing 35 troops in all of 2011," Obama told a White House news conference. | US president Barack Obama declared on Monday that he was sticking to his war strategy of using US troops to advise and mentor Afghan forces, despite a growing number of Afghan military attacks on foreign troops. In the past 10 days, there have been seven "green-on-blue attacks, with Afghan forces killing nine Americans. For the year there have been 32 such incidents, killing 40, compared to 21 attacks killing 35 troops in all of 2011," Obama told a White House news conference. |
| "We are deeply concerned about this, from top to bottom," he added. But he said the best approach, with the fewest number of deaths in the long run, would be to stick to the plan for shifting security responsibilities to the Afghans. | "We are deeply concerned about this, from top to bottom," he added. But he said the best approach, with the fewest number of deaths in the long run, would be to stick to the plan for shifting security responsibilities to the Afghans. |
| "We are transitioning to Afghan security, and for us to train them effectively we are in much closer contact – our troops are in much closer contact with Afghan troops on an ongoing basis," Obama said. "Part of what we've got to do is to make sure that this model works but it doesn't make our guys more vulnerable." | "We are transitioning to Afghan security, and for us to train them effectively we are in much closer contact – our troops are in much closer contact with Afghan troops on an ongoing basis," Obama said. "Part of what we've got to do is to make sure that this model works but it doesn't make our guys more vulnerable." |
| As recently as last week, the defence secretary, Leon Panetta, called such attacks "sporadic" and a sign of Taliban desperation. But as the assaults continued through the week, he consulted with his top commander in Kabul and then on Saturday called the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, to express concern. | As recently as last week, the defence secretary, Leon Panetta, called such attacks "sporadic" and a sign of Taliban desperation. But as the assaults continued through the week, he consulted with his top commander in Kabul and then on Saturday called the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, to express concern. |
| "We've got to make sure we're on top of this," Obama said. | "We've got to make sure we're on top of this," Obama said. |
| The president said he discussed the problem on Monday with the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Martin Dempsey, who was in Kabul to talk to US and Afghan officials about how to halt the killings. | The president said he discussed the problem on Monday with the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Martin Dempsey, who was in Kabul to talk to US and Afghan officials about how to halt the killings. |
| Dempsey said on his arrival in Kabul that it was important for Karzai and other top government officials to publicly denounce the insider killings, according to a Pentagon account. | Dempsey said on his arrival in Kabul that it was important for Karzai and other top government officials to publicly denounce the insider killings, according to a Pentagon account. |
| Dempsey's office at the Pentagon issued a statement on Monday saying he was convinced, after discussing the insider threat with his Afghan counterpart, General Sher Mohammad Karimi, that the Afghans "understand how important this moment is". | Dempsey's office at the Pentagon issued a statement on Monday saying he was convinced, after discussing the insider threat with his Afghan counterpart, General Sher Mohammad Karimi, that the Afghans "understand how important this moment is". |
| "In the past, it's been us pushing on them to make sure they do more," Dempsey was quoted as saying. "This time, without prompting, when I met General Karimi, he started with a conversation about insider attacks – and, importantly, insider attacks not just against us, but insider attacks against the Afghans, too." | "In the past, it's been us pushing on them to make sure they do more," Dempsey was quoted as saying. "This time, without prompting, when I met General Karimi, he started with a conversation about insider attacks – and, importantly, insider attacks not just against us, but insider attacks against the Afghans, too." |
| Most US combat troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. | Most US combat troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. |
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