The Killing of A U.S. General In Afghanistan Is A Sign Of Things To Come

U.S. General's Killing May Be A Bad Omen -- Peter Bergen and David Sterman, CNN

(CNN) -- On Tuesday, an Afghan soldier killed a U.S. major general and wounded a German brigadier general, as well as up to 15 others, in an attack at the Marshal Fahim National Defense University in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

The attack is an ominous sign regarding the potential risks to American service members as the majority of U.S. forces withdraw from Afghanistan.

If a Bilateral Security Agreement between the United States and Afghanistan is signed in coming months, the United States is likely to keep a residual force of around 9,800 troops in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of all U.S. combat troops at the end of 2014.

This residual force would serve in an advisory role to Afghan troops, which could further expose American forces to insider attacks.

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My Comment: Since the late 1970s Afghanistan has always been an extremely dangerous place for foreign soldiers. The death of a U.S. general at this point in the conflict reflects this danger acutely .... and U.S./NATO forces who will remain as a residual force to train Afghan forces in the years to come will need to be made aware of this threat on a constant basis.