Army Chief of Staff Says Soldiers Ready In Case Of Afghan Betrayal

Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno says he’s talked with soldiers preparing to deploy to Afghanistan about trusting their Afghan partners. Odierno was visiting Fort Campbell, where about four hundred soldiers are preparing to return to Afghanistan.

Fort Campbell soldiers are set to work in small groups alongside Afghan partners, which brings some concern after a series of betrayals by trusted Afghans earlier this year. But Odierno points out Americans have been working with Afghan forces for more than five years.

“If you really look at it, there’s been very few incidents. Now there has been more lately, and that obviously has our attention. Whenever we lose a soldier, that gets our attention. But I’m confident that we’ll continue to work with the Afghan Army, and the procedures we’ve put in place, and the techniques we’ve put in place will protect our soldiers as we go forward.”

Odierno says in conversation with soldiers about to deploy, they tell him they understand what they’re facing, and are ready.