US combat operations against the Taliban officially ended in 2014
DNYUZ: Russia Secretly Offered Afghan Militants Bounties to Kill Troops, U.S. Intelligence Says
WASHINGTON — American intelligence officials have concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan — including targeting American troops — amid the peace talks to end the long-running war there, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The United States concluded months ago that the Russian unit, which has been linked to assassination attempts and other covert operations in Europe intended to destabilize the West or take revenge on turncoats, had covertly offered rewards for successful attacks last year.
Islamist militants, or armed criminal elements closely associated with them, are believed to have collected some bounty money, the officials said. Twenty Americans were killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2019, but it was not clear which killings were under suspicion.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: These claims/accusations are nothing new. The U.S. in the past has claimed that Russia was supplying weapons to the Taliban .... Russia 'arming the Afghan Taliban', says US (BBC). But when asked for evidence at the time, none was provided.
More News On U.S. Intelligence Says Russia Is Offering Afghan Militants Bounties To Kill U.S. Troops
BREAKING NEWS: Russia paid the Taliban BOUNTIES for killing American troops in Afghanistan in plot orchestrated by secret unit which poisoned a defector spy - and White House has known for MONTHS -- Daily Mail
Russia offered Afghan militants bounties to kill U.S. troops -NY Times -- National Post/Reuters
Russia reportedly paid Taliban-linked militants bounty money to kill American troops -- Business Insider
Russian intel unit offered bounties for killing coalition troops in Afghanistan: report -- The Hill
17 comments:
US (Un)Intelligence is at it again. Here we go again. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. This is especially the case when the source has a colossally poor track record.
You don't provide evidence, when it would compromise sources or methods.
If you say NSA intercept, some wag will say I don't believe unless I can poke around NSA HQ or collection site.
The Russian have motive, means, and opportunity.
the motive is that we helped jihadis in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Another motive is that they figure it is their backyard or sphere of influence.
I am glad that you are healthy and back to your trolling self Be Imposter.
Can't blame them. They didn't do so well when they came up against US forces in Syria.
/and those were badass Wagner Groupies.
Anon (6:54),
I'm not sure where the trolling is. Perhaps you're the troll. If you'd blindly trust a government and an organization (the CIA) who has routinely erred and even outright lied to you, I can't help you.
I'm sorry. The claim made by the article is an extraordinary one. For extraordinary claims, you need extraordinary evidence. If you are going to risk the lives of my loved in a conflict with arguably the most powerful mikitary force on earth, you will need to show me the evidence and it better be rock solid. Given the poor track record of US Intelligence services, seeing this evidence is paramount. Given the extraordinary nature of the claim and the risks involved with actions that could flow from it and my best friend presented the claim, I'd want to see his evidence and evaluate it for myself and I trust him. My trust for our government is paper thin at best and for our (un)intelligence services it is negative. SHOW US THE EVIDENCE!! Stop using excuses such as "sources and methods. Of course they won't reveal them. We'd find out they're complete and total crop like their track record. As for HUMINT it's questionable at brst as to who'd deal with these people except Perhaps fellow incompetent boobs and ideological blind fellow travelers.
As for the assistance to Jihadis in Afghanistan, this was minimal and ddidn't alter the ultimate outcome of the war. When the Russians lost, they needed an excuse for domestic consumption and the rise had the Dddd benefit of stirring up tensions against their Cold War adversary. The messaging was further helped along by the empty boasts of certain US officials.
In retrospect given the Russian experience in Afghanistan that probably should have given us pause before going in. If they couldn't win there, perhaps it was hubris to think we could.
Some time ago the editor had reported that the Russian government offered us assistance when we invaded Afghanistan post 9/11 and our government turned it down. While I'm skeptical that this is the case, if I were to learn someday that this help was offered and our government turned it down, I would be VERY UPSET!! With their vast experience the help they could have offered us would've been invaluable in helping us achieve our objectives.
Normal major powers tend to react in a negative way when outside nations meddle in these areas. I'm glad Trump is working to FINALLY get us out of Afghanistan.
Russ,
The Wagoner Group appears to be best understood as the equivalent of a part of Russia's "third string" military. Somehow during operations they came in contact with and a shooting conflict with the equivalent of a part of our "first string" military ensued. Naturally it didn't end well for them.
What would happen if a shooting conflict happened between elements of ours and Russia's "first team" forces occurred? Let's pray we don't ever find out. We cannot "know" for certain without an actual conflict. While we may prevail, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be as lopsided as the fight against Wagoner Group.
I am beyond elated that we prevailed in that engagement. Many of the young people involved in it on our side are the same age as some of my loved ones and I do not want to see them hurt or killed!! A compelling case could be made that we never should have been there in the first place!!
New York Times:
Russia Secretly Offered Afghan Militants Bounties to Kill U.S. Troops, Intelligence Says — The Trump administration has been deliberating for months about what to do about a stunning intelligence assessment. — WASHINGTON — American intelligence officials have concluded …
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Discussion: Raw Story, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, Balloon Juice, DownWithTyranny!, The Sun, New York Post, Alternet.org, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Mediaite
RELATED:
Wall Street Journal:
Russian Spy Unit Paid Taliban to Attack Americans, U.S. Intelligence Says — Bounties paid by GRU are disclosed as U.S. plans troops drawdown, Taliban peace plan — WASHINGTON—A Russian spy unit paid members of Afghanistan's Taliban movement to conduct lethal attacks on U.S. troops in that country …
Washington Post:
Russian operation targeted coalition troops in Afghanistan, intelligence finds
Discussion: Raw Story and Eschaton
New York Times:
I see Fred Lapides copied and pasted another devastating piece from the New York Times complete with commercials.
"Discussion: Raw Story, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, Balloon Juice, DownWithTyranny!, The Sun, New York Post, Alternet.org, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Mediaite"
I especially like the care with which he includes the commercials for other things in the witty pieces that he posts. Those extraneous bits add to the argument.
What article on Afghanistan would be complete without the words Balloon Juice?
Such a deep thinker that guy!
The Russians have no reason to do something so stupid. I don't believe it.
From what I read of the Wagner "army" I found it's incompetence not reflective of my opinion of Russia's military.
Let us be clear and simple:
Russia is offering money to kill Americans. All the name calling or, in Postman's case,d dancing around the issue, does not change a thing. Do not believe intel here, reported by reputable media? that is because you side with Russia. You either fully and always reject anything from the American intel community or you accept what they say. You can not, as with the polls on politics, accept what you like and call them fake when they report what you do not like
Here is what a GOP person has to say on the issue
The intelligence finding was briefed to President Trump, and the White House’s National Security Council discussed the problem at an interagency meeting in late March, the officials said. Officials developed a menu of potential options — starting with making a diplomatic complaint to Moscow and a demand that it stop, along with an escalating series of sanctions and other possible responses, but the White House has yet to authorize any step, the officials said.
An operation to incentivize the killing of American and other NATO troops would be a significant and provocative escalation of what American and Afghan officials have said is Russian support for the Taliban, and it would be the first time the Russian spy unit was known to have orchestrated attacks on Western troops.
As i stated, provide evidence to support the claim. The track records of the sources cited simply is not good enough to trust on blind faith. The ramifications that may follow from such an allegation are very dire. If you are going to risk the lives of my loved ones, you not only better be providing rock solid evidence but you better be demonstrating you have the competence to successfully execute the ensuing conflict. Right now I'm seeing neither one.
Mr. Easy,
There have been reports about this going back years. So why didn't Obama do anything about it? You have one response. Trump is president now (You're 1 trick pony). Well maybe Trump is doing the same exact thing as Obama. It was good enough that Obama did it, but now the newspapers of record for the Left are trying to roust you and get you all flustered, if Trump does the same thing as Obama. And you are good for it. You are down with the struggle.
Russia was still recovering in 2001 from the Fall of the USSR. They may have not done much or nothing at all.
Russia felt weak in 2003, when we went against their client Sadam Hussein. They hid his WMD's and sold GPS jammers to Iraq.
Russia was outraged in 2011, when Obama went after their client Qadaffi, but they stood aside.
In 2012 to 2014 Russia was no longer afraid of the poser Obama and said "Hell No", when it came to toppling Assad. Obama may have been working at it, but not very hard. Qatar UAE, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia definitely were.
Some time after Libya and before Syria is when you see reports of Russia getting into Afghanistan.
That was 7 years ago. But now the might Mr. Easy is exercised?
Just now?
"Concerned about the Democrat party you are, hmmmmm" The soldier or the US not so much.
Bush 41/McCain/Kasich strategist EXPLAINS @JoeBiden supporter
Anyone who is a McCain or Kasich supporter Play Washington Generals to the Democrats Globetrotters.
@ProjectLincoln founder. You find Robert Shrum. A Democrat political strategist who wrote for McGovern.
You also find Steve Schmidt, who is a another 'winner'.
Thoughtful analysis and sharing by Fred Lapides? No. The kid is just trying to use the Lincoln Project post as a cudgel.
"Afghan officials allege that Russian intelligence helped the Taliban capture Kunduz in 2015 and 2016, shortly after Mullah Abdul Salam – one of the insurgents’ “shadow governors” – travelled to Tajikistan."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/22/russia-supplying-taliban-afghanistan
Gee, I wonder if the Big Easy remembers who was president in 2015 & 2016?
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