Afghan officer opens fire, kills 9 Americans

[Ghost in the Machine]

Afghan officer opens fire, kills 9 Americans
By DEB RIECHMANN
Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A veteran Afghan military pilot said to be distressed over his personal finances opened fire at Kabul airport after an argument Wednesday, killing eight U.S. troops and an American civilian contractor.

Those killed were trainers and advisers for the nascent Afghan air force. The shooting was the deadliest attack by a member of the Afghan security forces, or an insurgent impersonating them, on coalition troops or Afghan soldiers or policemen. There have been seven such attacks so far this year.

Although the individual circumstances may differ, the incidents of Afghans turning against their coalition partners seem to reflect growing anti-foreigner sentiment independent of the Taliban. Afghans are increasingly tired of the nearly decade-long war and think their lives have not improved despite billions of dollars in international aid.

The Taliban, who are currently staging their opening salvos of the spring fighting season, boasted that the gunman in Wednesday's airport attack was a militant impersonating an army officer.

This claim did not seem credible, however

http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14523977

I'm hoping my cousin is safe over there. She's a retired Colonel and is over there working on some kind of mission. Here's one of her facebook posts: "Writing from Kabul, outside the International Security and Assistance Force compound, because I can't sleep and am bored! Working 14 hrs/day and sleeping about 5 - yuck. And let's just say this place has a ways to go before it's a prime tourist destination. But the mountains surrounding the city are beautiful and the mission is important."

Stay safe, Terri!