Posted on 02/25/2012 3:49:36 PM PST by kristinn
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2012 – President Barack Obama called the commander of the International Security Assistance Force today to offer condolences for the “tragic killing of U.S. troops” in Kabul and to discuss the ongoing violence in Afghanistan.
“On behalf of the American people, the president expressed his condolences to [Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen] and to the families who lost loved ones,” White House officials said in a statement today.
Initial reports indicate that an individual turned his weapon against ISAF service members in Kabul City today, killing two service members, according to an ISAF Joint Command statement.
In Kabul, Allen made the decision to protect forces by instituting the recall of ISAF-Afghanistan personnel working in ministries in and around Kabul.
"I condemn today's attack at the Afghan Ministry of Interior that killed two of our coalition officers, and my thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the brave individuals lost today," the general said in the statement.
Allen said an investigation is under way and officials will pursue all leads to find the person responsible for this attack. “The perpetrator of this attack is a coward whose actions will not go unanswered,” he said.
During the call, Obama thanked Allen for the steps he’s taking to protect service members and civilians in Afghanistan, and “to encourage calm.”
Earlier today, Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak offered condolences in a phone call with Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and apologized for the incident, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.
"Secretary Panetta appreciated the call and urged the Afghan government to take decisive action to protect coalition forces and curtail the violence in Afghanistan after a challenging week in the country," Little said.
Wardak told Panetta that Afghan President Hamid Karzai was assembling religious leaders, parliamentarians, justices of the Supreme Court and other senior Afghan officials to take urgent steps to take such action, Little added.
The United States welcomes Karzai’s statement encouraging peaceful expressions, and his call for dialogue and calm, the White House statement said.
“The United States remains committed to a partnership with the government and the people of Afghanistan, as we work to realize our shared goal of disrupting, dismantling and defeating al-Qaida and strengthening the Afghan state,” the statement said.
(Cheryl Pellerin of American Forces Press Service contributed to this article.)
(More on Obama's statement from the Los Angeles Times:
In a statement, the White House said Obama thanked Allen for the "measures he is taking to protect our service members and civilians in Afghanistan and to encourage calm."
"We welcome President [Hamid] Karzai's statement this morning encouraging peaceful expressions, and his call for dialogue and calm," the statement read. "The United States remains committed to a partnership with the government and people of Afghanistan, as we work to realize our shared goal of disrupting, dismantling and defeating Al Qaeda and strengthening the Afghan state."
Curious.
Condolences for the deaths, but no demands for the deaths to stop.
Too late... Should have thought of that before he apologized to the enemy.
I'm sure he doesn't care that much for the American lives, but he does care about being reelected!
He can take his condolences and shove it up his anti-American posterior.
American soldiers of all ranks shaould refuse to participate in any kind of joint operation, training or exercise with Afghani “soldiers”,”police” or “security forces” immediately.
They have shown on numerous occasions to become instant jihadis, intent on murdering their trusting and helpful American counterparts.
Folks, pick up the phone on Monday and let your representatives in DC have it.
We need to be out of that hellhole yesterday.
Let it be Obama’s “Viet Nam”
His “quagmire”. “Where’s the exit strategy?”
He and the Communist Muslim loving Dems deserve all of it.
Yet he made a move about the Koran first.
He would not be even mentioning the deaths of US soldiers if Newt had not wacked him up side the head for appologizing. He really does not care about soilders being killed. He cares about the Marxist ideology of political correctness which claims Islam is the religion of peace and the US is an evil and has been Nation.
“God bless America? No No No No No!!! God damn America...”
Rev. Wright
On Obama’s “Christian” religion
Are we still waiting for Karzai’s apology.....?
(crickets)
Just like he gave a “Shout Out” to a person in an audience before he said how sorry he was to hear about the shooting at Fort Hood by a Muslim—remember that?
Is he ALSO going to APOLOGIZE to Karzai for Muslims people KILLING the Americans???
Yes, that’s EXACTLY what I said!
I assume we're paying these lowlifes - so it looks like a 'we are the world' moment - when it fact it's not much different than paying Hitler's SS to march with us - giving the illusion we're all friends until they turn their guns on us.
Come to think of it, we damn well better NOT being paying them to 'work' with us...
Does anyone know?
YES!!! YES!!! and YES!!!
Not one more American life should spent protecting their asses. After 11 YEARS, they have to protect their own. Let's get the hell outta there!!!
But did he call the families first? NO, he calls the Afghan president first then some commander. And from what the BBC is saying is those burned Korans had some extra writing somewhere and were considered non-holy. It was the Afghan civilians working at the base who burned them. Then the false rumor gets out that the Americans did it.
“..stinkin’ little Kenyan turd blossom...”
Nice feller. Would make good greater at Walmart.
But did he call the families first? NO, he calls the Afghan president first then some commander. And from what the BBC is saying is those burned Korans had some extra writing somewhere and were considered non-holy. It was the Afghan civilians working at the base who burned them. Then the false rumor gets out that the Americans did it. Then of course Obamalamadingdong without a shred of knowledge (remember the cop who busted that black prof?) goes ahead and apologizes first without finding out the whole story.
</redundancy>
I wish this jackass would just shut-up already. The military hates him and so does every true American in this nation.
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