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: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 28 2020, @04:53PM
Getting out would not generate good will. We are far past the point where folks are going to forgive the murder of their families by American soldiers / drone strikes in illegal wars of aggression (promoted by right-wing "think tanks" as a source of future profit for the rich parasite class), that have resulted in millions of deaths and even greater displacement and misery.
But, staying there just increases the animosity. So, yeah, we should GTFO!
The US under Baby Bush and later Obama, and now Trump, have created more enemies of the US by their wanton killing in the middle east, than even blood thirsty butchers like Reagan with his army of far-right death squads in central america.