Outrage mounts over report Russia offered bounties to Afghanistan militants for killing US soldiers
Outrage has greeted media reports that say American intelligence officials believe a Russian military intelligence unit offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing foreign soldiers in Afghanistan, including targeting Americans.
The story first appeared in the New York Times, citing its sources as unnamed officials briefed on the matter, and followed up by the Washington Post. The reports said that the US had come to the conclusion about the operation several months ago and offered rewards for successful attacks last year.
The Times wrote: "The intelligence finding was briefed to Trump, and the White House's National Security Council discussed the problem at an interagency meeting in late March." White House officials apparently drew up several possible options to retaliate against the Kremlin, ranging from a diplomatic reprimand right through to fresh sanctions. However, the White House has so far not taken any action.
It is not clear if bounties were ever paid out for successfully killing American soldiers.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 28 2020, @01:15PM (4 children)
So you have an unnamed official telling tales about something that, if real, would be just tit-for-tat for the USA funding the Mujaheddin. Compare that to our alleged "allies" deliberately attempting to sink one of our ships, killing 34 and wounding 171 sailors.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday June 28 2020, @02:20PM
Too late for tit-for-tat. Russia should have done that oh 35 years ago. They're not even the same country anymore - or do all the former Soviet republics get a chance for tit-for-tat?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 28 2020, @08:38PM (2 children)
TBF, we were anything but allied to Israel in the 60s. That started under Ford, I think.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 29 2020, @12:36AM
True, the US didn't ally with Israel until 1974. The '70s oil crisis was Saudi Arabia's response to that change in policy.
(Score: 0, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 29 2020, @06:23AM
You lying zionist shill.