©
By Tim Mak
Major Gen. Peter Fuller, a top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, was relieved of his duties Friday after comments he made to Politico disparaging Afghan President Hamid Karzai and calling the government's leaders "isolated from reality."
Gen. John Allen, commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, ousted Fuller following what the coalition called his "inappropriate public comments."
"These unfortunate comments are neither indicative of our current solid relationship with the government of Afghanistan, its leadership, or our joint commitment to prevail here in Afghanistan," Allen said in a statement.
Fuller was the deputy commander of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan and responsible for training Afghan security forces.
In a Thursday interview with Politico, Fuller, a two-star general, slammed Karzai's recent remark that Afghanistan would side with Pakistan in a war against the United States, blasting the president's comments as "erratic," and adding, "Why don't you just poke me in the eye with a needle! You've got to be kidding me.... I'm sorry, we just gave you $11.6 billion and now you're telling me, 'I don't really care?' "
Fuller also criticized Afghan leaders as divorced from the economic realities of the United States.
He repeatedly said the Afghan leaders don't appreciate the sacrifice that the United States was making in "blood and treasure" for the sake of their country.
Military officials said Fuller had been quoted accurately and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta had been made aware of his comments to Politico, CNN reported.
The NATO statement did not say what Fuller would do next, but such disciplinary action usually ends military careers, reports noted. Fuller has served in the armed forces for more than 30 years.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
RELIEVED GENERAL
Its to bad that only the "inner circle" of the Government can make comments on one side of their face and offer a dove on the other. Walk carefully in the pasture!
That will show him
That will show Karzai: threaten to side with the known terrorist against the country that dumped billions of dollars and so many lives into their country and the commander in thief will sack the US general in charge, if he dares to comment. The Afghans are laughing all the way to the bank at the Americans. I guess we get what we deserve when we elected obummer- well, at least we're not biased, racist or controversial
FINALLY!
A General Officer speaking the TRUTH as he sees it ACTUALLY being there on the ground.
The U.S. Military , despite what Senator John Kerry once said,is amongst the best & brightest we have in our Nation.
It's sad to see that so many great warriors with their collective mouths shut.
I know it's their duty to follow orders but allowing the REMF's to steer the boat is criminal at this point in time.
Afghanistan is called the "grave yard of nations" for a reason. Right now it's corrupt, out of control and a bank breaker for this great Nation.
We need more Generals & Admirals to speak out NOW.
Give him a medal!
MGEN Fuller obviously understands history and economics. That makes him one of a very small group of under-utilized and under-appreciated U. S. policy makers. It is mystifying that we are committing so much blood and treasure to one of the most backward, desolate, and strategically insignificant areas of the world.
U. S. forces are fighting in areas so remote that the tribesmen think they are still battling Russians. The "terrorists getting a nuke" scenario is worthy of consideration, but does not require occupying an entire country.
The Emperor has no Clothes!!!
The honesty of this general's comments are too much for those deluded into thinking we can actually WIN in Afghanistan. What constitutes a win? They ignore the simple fact that you cannot create a Western style Democracy in a place where the people and the culture do not respect the rights of the individual. We would have to be such draconian overloads to drag them kicking and screaming into even the 19th century to make that happen 50 years from now. It's not worth one more life or one more of our borrowed cents to help a people who do not respect the individual rights of their fellow countrymen. Liberty is most valued by people who earn it themselves.
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World!!!!
Karsai trashes U.S. and this is what we get for someone speaking honestly about the situation! The world has turned upside down and all the sewage is dripping out! This stuff makes me sick to my stomach. People are to quick to throw a good man under the bus in the name of political correctness! I'll bet most people are ready for us to get out of Afghanistan now!
Karzai/Afghanistan?
Why are we still there? If Karzai would oppose the US in a war against anybody in the world, we should have gotten out years and years ago. Why do we waste our precious men and pour our money down a wide open drain? Sorry, but I just don't understand our supporting such a corrupt govt. Before we leave the area we should mutilate Pakistan as well!