Why did they go AWOL? We don’t know. What do they think about the Taliban? We don’t know. It is politically incorrect to ask such questions. What do they think about the United States? We don’t know. It is politically incorrect to ask such questions. What do they think about Islam? We don’t know. It is politically incorrect to ask such questions. What do they think about jihad against Infidels? We don’t know. It is politically incorrect to ask such questions. “All we’re worried about right now is for their safety.” Their safety. What about the safety of Americans they might have killed, had they been so inclined? Shut up, you greasy Islamophobe. You could jeopardize diversity.
Even if these guys were just out joyriding or sightseeing, the next Afghan officers to go AWOL could be up to something more nefarious. All these programs to train Afghan soldiers here should be ended.
An update on this story. “Sources: Missing Afghan Soldiers Found Near Canadian Border,” by Lara Salahi, Boston.com, September 21, 2014 (thanks to Brendan):
Three Afghanistan National Army soldiers who went missing Saturday night from a Regional Cooperation training exercise at Camp Edwards in Sandwich have been found on near the Canadian border, multiple sources close to the investigation confirmed to Boston.com.
It is unclear where exactly the men were found, as well as whether they’ll return to Joint Base Cape Cod.
The three men are senior military officers from Afghanistan and were cleared by the US State Department to participate in the exercise, according to Massachusetts National Guard spokesman Lt. Col. James Sahady. They were identified as Maj. Jan Mohammad Arash, Capt. Mohammad Nasir Askarzada and Capt. Noorullah Aminyar.
US Central Command, who led the investigation, notified The Massachusetts National Guard along with state and local law enforcement of the missing soldiers. However, state and local agencies were not involved in an active search, Maj. Andrew Aranda, a spokesperson for US Central Command, told Boston.com.
The three men, who speak English, were last seen Saturday while chaperoned to the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis. The Department of Defense has not officially released photos to the public of the missing soldiers. State and local officials have also not been provided with official photos and it’s unclear whether they will given any to work with, Aranda said.
Although the soldiers are considered by military standards as Absent Without Official Leave, they are legally allowed to be in the US under documentation similar to a tourist visa.
“We invited them to the country, they’re allowed to be here,” Aranda said. “Right now, tips will be share with all of the appropriate agencies.”
There are 200 people from six nations participating in the exercise, including 15 officers and senior enlisted personnel from Afghanistan, said Sahady. The two-week annual exercise, sponsored this year by US Central Command, is designed to strengthen relationships between the US and participating nations. The soldiers arrived at Joint Base Cape Cod on Sept. 11.
Non-US soldiers underwent a thorough security tracking and vetting process—known as “Leahy vetting”—before being granted approval to participate.
“Not all 200 people are locked down on base,” Sahady told Boston.com. At some points during their stay, participants are cleared to leave for dinner or to participate in activities off base without restrictions, he said.
Federal and military officials said the men are not considered a threat to the public.
“All we’re worried about right now is for their safety,” Aranda said.
This is not the first reported case of Afghan nationals who have gone missing while undergoing a training program in the US. Two Afghan policemen who were taking part in an intensive DEA training program in Quantico, Va., went missing while on a sightseeing trip last Thursday. They were found in Buffalo, NY, on Friday.