Posted on Aug 25, 2015
After a general’s death in Afghanistan, an Army family feels betrayed
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'Completely Betrayed'
From: The Washington Post
The family gathered for a private briefing at the Pentagon, intent on learning the details of how an Afghan soldier had fatally shot their loved one, Maj. Gen. Harold J. Greene, the highest-ranking American officer killed in a combat zone since the Vietnam War.
They were all there — Harry Greene’s widow, herself a retired Army colonel; his two children, one a first lieutenant educated at West Point; his father, who’d served as an enlisted soldier at the end of World War II; and his two brothers — and they were all furious. The Afghan soldier, perched in an unsecured military police barracks, opened fire Aug. 5, 2014, on senior U.S. military leaders and Afghan troops at the country’s premiere military academy near Kabul. The insider attack wounded 18 coalition and Afghan soldiers and killed Greene, 55, a two-star general who’d made the Army his life for 34 years.
Two months after the attack, the Greenes wanted to know how it could have taken place and who was responsible for the breach of security.
Sitting before the family in a Pentagon conference room were two generals, including Brig. Gen. Donald E. Jackson Jr., the investigating officer. Greene’s widow, Sue Myers, who holds a top-level security clearance, had already read an unredacted version of his 500-plus-page report. Her son, 1st Lt. Matthew Greene, based at Fort Hood, Tex., participated in the briefing via video, listening as Jackson presented a synopsis of his findings.
Among the conclusions: The shooting could not have been foreseen or prevented, and there was no negligence on the part of any military leader.
“There are many things we may learn from this experience that may help us prevent making ourselves an easy target to the next would-be shooter,” wrote Jackson, who declined to be interviewed for this story. “The outcome of this case illustrates what can happen when we combine a determined shooter with a target of opportunity. . . . This incident does, however, bring into question a fundamental problem set in how we must balance the need for maintaining an environment of trust and confidence with our Afghan partners while providing adequate force protection for our advisory team members and leaders.”
Myers, five months shy of celebrating what would have been her 30th wedding anniversary, was not satisfied. She and her family had a litany of questions about how so many military commanders got so close to an unsecured building and why U.S. investigators couldn’t pry more information out of the Afghan military about the slain shooter’s motives.
Jackson couldn’t offer many answers, recalled Myers, in her first interview since her husband’s death.
“When I asked Jackson about all this missing information, he kind of shrugged his shoulders, saying that’s the way it is,” said Myers, 57. “They made a big deal about how the Afghans weren’t cooperating, and we were fortunate to have anything from them at all. I was like, ‘What the hell? Why don’t we pull some [aid] money?’ We’ve got all these guys over there, and we can’t convince them to cooperate?”
Of the 2,351 U.S. service members killed in the longest war in U.S. history, only a small fraction have been at the hands of Afghan allies-turned-traitors. Insider attacks have killed 147 coalition service members and wounded hundreds of others since 2007, when U.S. officials first began tracking them.
But the treachery of “green-on-blue” attacks — the phrase used to describe assaults on NATO forces by members of the Afghan security forces — has had an outsize effect, undermining trust between the two sides and raising questions about whether Afghans will ever be ready to function on their own.
The Greenes are not the only family who say the U.S. military’s investigations into these deaths are flawed or incomplete, a consequence, they say, of the politically awkward dynamics of these shootings.
Asked to respond to those accusations, Maj. Genieve David, a spokeswoman for U.S. Central Command, said: “The U.S. military is known for having a great support system in place and if any of our military families reached out to CENTCOM for support, we’d absolutely assist them any way we can and refer them to any resources and people they needed.”
The Greene family’s three-hour briefing at the Pentagon did little to soothe Matthew Greene, 26.
“It feels,” he said later, “like we’ve been not only betrayed by the Afghans — a select few, who think it’s a good idea to gun down the people trying to help them — but also by our Army, completely betrayed.”
Read the full story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/local/2015/08/19/completely-betrayed/
From: The Washington Post
The family gathered for a private briefing at the Pentagon, intent on learning the details of how an Afghan soldier had fatally shot their loved one, Maj. Gen. Harold J. Greene, the highest-ranking American officer killed in a combat zone since the Vietnam War.
They were all there — Harry Greene’s widow, herself a retired Army colonel; his two children, one a first lieutenant educated at West Point; his father, who’d served as an enlisted soldier at the end of World War II; and his two brothers — and they were all furious. The Afghan soldier, perched in an unsecured military police barracks, opened fire Aug. 5, 2014, on senior U.S. military leaders and Afghan troops at the country’s premiere military academy near Kabul. The insider attack wounded 18 coalition and Afghan soldiers and killed Greene, 55, a two-star general who’d made the Army his life for 34 years.
Two months after the attack, the Greenes wanted to know how it could have taken place and who was responsible for the breach of security.
Sitting before the family in a Pentagon conference room were two generals, including Brig. Gen. Donald E. Jackson Jr., the investigating officer. Greene’s widow, Sue Myers, who holds a top-level security clearance, had already read an unredacted version of his 500-plus-page report. Her son, 1st Lt. Matthew Greene, based at Fort Hood, Tex., participated in the briefing via video, listening as Jackson presented a synopsis of his findings.
Among the conclusions: The shooting could not have been foreseen or prevented, and there was no negligence on the part of any military leader.
“There are many things we may learn from this experience that may help us prevent making ourselves an easy target to the next would-be shooter,” wrote Jackson, who declined to be interviewed for this story. “The outcome of this case illustrates what can happen when we combine a determined shooter with a target of opportunity. . . . This incident does, however, bring into question a fundamental problem set in how we must balance the need for maintaining an environment of trust and confidence with our Afghan partners while providing adequate force protection for our advisory team members and leaders.”
Myers, five months shy of celebrating what would have been her 30th wedding anniversary, was not satisfied. She and her family had a litany of questions about how so many military commanders got so close to an unsecured building and why U.S. investigators couldn’t pry more information out of the Afghan military about the slain shooter’s motives.
Jackson couldn’t offer many answers, recalled Myers, in her first interview since her husband’s death.
“When I asked Jackson about all this missing information, he kind of shrugged his shoulders, saying that’s the way it is,” said Myers, 57. “They made a big deal about how the Afghans weren’t cooperating, and we were fortunate to have anything from them at all. I was like, ‘What the hell? Why don’t we pull some [aid] money?’ We’ve got all these guys over there, and we can’t convince them to cooperate?”
Of the 2,351 U.S. service members killed in the longest war in U.S. history, only a small fraction have been at the hands of Afghan allies-turned-traitors. Insider attacks have killed 147 coalition service members and wounded hundreds of others since 2007, when U.S. officials first began tracking them.
But the treachery of “green-on-blue” attacks — the phrase used to describe assaults on NATO forces by members of the Afghan security forces — has had an outsize effect, undermining trust between the two sides and raising questions about whether Afghans will ever be ready to function on their own.
The Greenes are not the only family who say the U.S. military’s investigations into these deaths are flawed or incomplete, a consequence, they say, of the politically awkward dynamics of these shootings.
Asked to respond to those accusations, Maj. Genieve David, a spokeswoman for U.S. Central Command, said: “The U.S. military is known for having a great support system in place and if any of our military families reached out to CENTCOM for support, we’d absolutely assist them any way we can and refer them to any resources and people they needed.”
The Greene family’s three-hour briefing at the Pentagon did little to soothe Matthew Greene, 26.
“It feels,” he said later, “like we’ve been not only betrayed by the Afghans — a select few, who think it’s a good idea to gun down the people trying to help them — but also by our Army, completely betrayed.”
Read the full story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/local/2015/08/19/completely-betrayed/
After a general’s death in Afghanistan, an Army family feels betrayed
Posted from washingtonpost.com
Afghanistan
Death
Army
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 27
46
46
0
I hope I don't upset anyone, but...
As Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, we accept the fact that this is a possibility for us... As family members left behind, regardless of what they say, not so much so. Everything that can be told in this story has been told, and I, personally, feel that anything added would be a lie for comfort or to assign blame in an attempt to "hold on longer"... This incident has played out more than once for many of our brothers and sisters, and wont be the last as long as trust, no matter how restricted, is betrayed by our allies. Like so many of our brothers and sisters who paid the ultimate price on this path, this one should be no different because of rank or position. But because of rank and position, the Army has done far more than they would have done for any other of it's members. A great warrior, like so many others, gave his life in the service of a country he loves, and I feel that he wouldn't have had or wanted it any other way. My thoughts and prayers will remain with the family for their loss, and many will continue to support their efforts to "find out more", but at some point, they will have to accept there's nothing more to be told.
Rest in peace, General... You will not be forgotten...
^. .^
As Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, we accept the fact that this is a possibility for us... As family members left behind, regardless of what they say, not so much so. Everything that can be told in this story has been told, and I, personally, feel that anything added would be a lie for comfort or to assign blame in an attempt to "hold on longer"... This incident has played out more than once for many of our brothers and sisters, and wont be the last as long as trust, no matter how restricted, is betrayed by our allies. Like so many of our brothers and sisters who paid the ultimate price on this path, this one should be no different because of rank or position. But because of rank and position, the Army has done far more than they would have done for any other of it's members. A great warrior, like so many others, gave his life in the service of a country he loves, and I feel that he wouldn't have had or wanted it any other way. My thoughts and prayers will remain with the family for their loss, and many will continue to support their efforts to "find out more", but at some point, they will have to accept there's nothing more to be told.
Rest in peace, General... You will not be forgotten...
^. .^
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Ryan G.
I also dont want to upset anyone. From an outsiders (of the military) viewpoint. Seeing the lack of response by this administration, in an effort to ease tensions is seemingly disrespectful. High security over people seems oppressive, yet allowing people to be attacked and killed is unjustified. No one deserves to be attacked, but these people have been programmed to hold grudges for thousands of years. We didnt start this war but dragged into a war that has existed before there was even thought of the US. I am saddened and greatful so many of you do a job that puts your lives on the line. I pray our decision makers can do more to protect you all against an enemy who has no law by man and is corrupted in thought.
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SGT John Barclay
On May 18th, 1967 an undermanned company of Infantry, was sent near an off ramp of the Ho Chi Minh trail. After an ambush ensued, killing many in B 1/8 Infantry 4th ID, reinforcements from the battalion came to engage for 8 more days. Decades later the full story was told, but 80 soldiers died, while 3 received the MOH and the units were given the Presidential Unit Citatation. Two NVA regiments were rendered too broken to be effective. Nearly 700 enemy soldiers died. 17,000 rounds of artillery and 57 air strikes were used to save those who made it through the battle now referred to as the Nine Days In May. Though greater than any battle in the Middle East, no excuse for using those tactics, or any real celebration or reference to the battle was given. No lessons were learned and basically ... that's the way it is for warriors. Army grunts often stay under the radar without acclaim. When questioning the wisdom of an operation, "that's our job" is the only answer. It's the dirty work only few will ever be asked to do.
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MAJ (Join to see)
All cassualties should be delivered to their next of kin. Perhaps if Ms. Greene were to meet with the parents of the shooter, or at least review the transcripts of the next of kins debriefing. I'm guessing that he wasn't literally swept under the rug, but he might has well have been. I didn't see too many enemy remains being properly delivered while I was in Afghanistan. I'd like the parents of my slain enemy to tell me why it is I had to kill their child. That is what I call seeking justice.
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Would there be an answer that would be acceptable? Would having someone fall on the sword be acceptable? I'm not trying to be callous or insensitive to them, but a round doesn't know rank or care who it hits. The best thing that could come out of this is to make so that it doesn't happen again to anyone regardless of rank. Learn from our mistakes.
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Sgt Kevin Curl
Absolutely someone should be held accountable even if it was just a private that was murdered , the family deserve's more than soft shoe shuffle of nobody's at fault .
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MAJ James Woods
Sgt Kevin Curl - Someone has been held accountable...the shooter. And lets not forget we've had privates, sergeants, other officers killed by an insider threat in both Iraq and Afghanistan over the years. Should those families be demanding additional accountability as well? This GO had a PSD and I bet for the last four years several of them are still asking themselves "what could I have done to prevent this?".
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My guess is most allied troops killed by Afghan forces do not get many/any answers. I think part of it is there is no answer. The shooter was a traitor, he worked for the enemy, wearing a friendly uniform and picked a target of opportunity. His happened to be a Major General which is why this one has all of the press attention.
I don't know how many others have has as much access as the Generals Widow and family. They likely had far more than most. It does say a lot when no one appears willing to press the Afghan leadership over the death of a Major General. This also make you appreciate what the family of an E3 killed in blue on blue attacks must feel like. They likely get zero answers of access etc.
I don't know how many others have has as much access as the Generals Widow and family. They likely had far more than most. It does say a lot when no one appears willing to press the Afghan leadership over the death of a Major General. This also make you appreciate what the family of an E3 killed in blue on blue attacks must feel like. They likely get zero answers of access etc.
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