Russian bounties to Taliban led to deaths of US troops in Afghanistan, says Intelligence despite Trump's denial
The US’ political establishment has been left rattled since The New York Times reported last week that Russia paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill American troops in Afghanistan. President Donald Trump drew heavy backlash from his critics who have alleged that he took little steps against the Kremlin despite its sinister designs and even tried to bring Russia back into G7.
And now, The Washington Post has cited intelligence reports to say that Russian bounties offered to the militants have even resulted in deaths of several American service members. The details have come out following the military’s interrogations of militants captured in the recent months, the report on Sunday, June 28, added.
The Post, however, knew from other sources that it was not clear as to how many American or coalition troops from other countries may have been killed or targeted. American forces in Afghanistan saw 10 casualties from gunfire and bombs in 2018 while the number went up to 16 in 2019. Two have been killed so far this year. The report said several service members also lost their lives in “green on blue” hostile incidents by members of Afghan security forces, which are at times believed to have been infiltrated by the Taliban. According to those sources, the intelligence was received from the US Special Operations forces based in Afghanistan and a restricted high-level meeting took place in the White House in late March.
In the meeting, broad discussions were held about possible responses to Russia’s action, according to a couple of persons who were present in the discussion but spoke to the media only on the condition of anonymity. There were differences over what steps the US should have chosen against Russia. While the country’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, wanted to take on Moscow head-on, some National Security Council officials in charge of Russia did not want to go down that path.
Russia and the Taliban denied the existence of the program, The Post said.
Trump, on Sunday, June 28, confirmed statements issued by the director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany that neither he nor Vice President Mike Pence nor Chief of Staff Mark Meadows got any briefing on the subject and tweeted that it was “Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax, maybe by the Fake News” while attacking the NYT.
In some other tweets on Sunday, June 28 Trump said: “Nobody’s been tougher on Russia than the Trump Administration. With Corrupt Joe Biden & Obama, Russia had a field day, taking over important parts of Ukraine…”
John Bolton, Nancy Pelosi slam Trump
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who recently came up with a tell-all memoir exposing the president, reacted to the issue saying Trump’s denial of the report on Russia-Taliban nexus to kill American troops is “unconnected to the reality” but asserted that it is something standard for the incumbent.
“There's a lot we don't know so we should be cautious, but from what we do know from the president's own tweets this morning, to me it looks like just another day at the office in the Trump White House,” the 71-year-old, who has a long history of serving in the White House under various administrations, told NBC News' Meet the Press on Sunday, June 28. He said if the reports are true, then it is a "very, very serious matter". Bolton, who Trump sacked last September after a 17-month stint, is currently on a media tour to promote his controversial book ‘The Room Where it Happened: A White House Memoir’.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, another strong Trump critic, told ABC News the same day that Trump’s denial of the report is “as bad as it gets”.
“This is as bad as it gets and yet the president will not confront the Russians on this score – denies being briefed, whether he is or not, his administration knows. Some of our allies who work with us in Afghanistan have been briefed and accept this report,” she said on This Week. “Just as I've said to the president, with him all roads lead to Putin. I don't know what the Russians have on the president, politically, personally, financially or whatever it is,” the 80-year-old Californian Congresswoman said, adding that the US should take strong measures against Russia if the reports are true.