Missing Afghans Raise Terrorism Fears

[Hand]

Several Afghan nationals undergoing military training in the United States disappeared from U.S. military bases this month, according to Pentagon and Homeland Security officials.

“During the month of September, seven Afghan students were considered absent without leave (AWOL) during international military student programs,” Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Patrick L. Evans said.

Three of the Afghan military trainees fled from a Pentagon training program two weekends ago during the bombing spree in New York and New Jersey by Afghan-born bombing suspect Ahmad Rahami, raising concerns among security officials that the missing Afghan students may be linked to terrorism or plans for attacks in the United States.

The disappearance of the Afghans comes amid heightened fears of increasing Islamist terror attacks around the country. The attacks have included the New York area bombings and attempted bombings, a knife attack at a Minnesota mall by a Somali jihadist, and other regional shootings.

Two of the missing Afghans had been training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and one was training at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

An Army source said the Afghans who left the weekend of the New York area bombings appeared to be part of a coordinated effort. The three men are being probed for possible connections to Rahami. “Initial assessment is that there is not relation and the timing is coincidental,” the source said.

Evans declined to comment on whether the Pentagon has security concerns about the missing Afghans.

Sarah Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement service, said authorities are pursuing the Afghans.

“ICE Homeland Security Investigations is aware of the situation, and is actively working to locate these individuals in coordination with the State Department and the Department of Defense,” she said, declining specifics because of the ongoing investigation.

Source

Why do we bring Afghans here for training?
Have the latest batches of Afghani soldiers been any better than the previous?

[Guy]

Foreign troops have been absconding from CONUS training for years before these guys.

Look in the strip clubs and/or bars near and around strip clubs.

[Divemaster]

Actually, nothing new, same country. This is so identical to past incidents I had to make sure it was from this year.

[Sohei]

Originally Posted by Guy

Foreign troops have been absconding from CONUS training for years before these guys.

Originally Posted by Divemaster

Actually, nothing new, same country. This is so identical to past incidents I had to make sure it was from this year.

Yep. It would shock the average citizen to know what countries have had people abscond while here for training.

And, many of them are still here and have been for years!