HALLOWEEN IN AFGHANISTAN … TRICK OR TREAT OR TROJAN HORSE?

American General Killed in Shooting at Afghan Military Academy

SIDE BAR NARRATIVE

World's largest producer of opium; poppy cultivation increased 57 percent, from 115,000 hectares in 2011 to 180,000 hectares in 2012; despite the increase in area under cultivation, the effects of poor weather and crop disease resulted in lower yield so potential opium production remained stable at 4,300 mt in 2012 compared to 4,400 mt in 2011; the Taliban and other antigovernment groups participate in and profit from the opiate trade, which is a key source of revenue for the Taliban inside Afghanistan; widespread corruption and instability impede counter drug efforts; most of the heroin consumed in Europe and Eurasia is derived from Afghan opium; Afghanistan is also struggling to respond to a burgeoning domestic opiate addiction problem; vulnerable to drug money laundering through informal financial networks; regional source of hashish (2013).

• 31.1 million country population
• 42% of population is under 14 years of age
• 3.o97 million live in Kabul
• GDP $45.3 billion USD
• US has spent $500 billion direct USD on Afghanistan

 WHY ARE WE STILL THERE?

An American general was killed today and 15 other soldiers wounded in an attack at a military academy in Afghanistan today.

The incident happened at Camp Qargha where Afghan military officers were being trained when a gunman wearing an Afghan army uniform turned his weapon against Americans and other Afghans. The camp was recently renamed the Marshal Fahim National Defense University for the country's deceased vice president.

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

A U.S. official described the shooting victim as a two star major general, the highest ranking official to be killed in the Afghanistan war. American generals usually have their security detail.

About half of the 15 wounded are believed to be Americans, a U.S. official told ABC News.

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The military is in the process of notifying the next of kin.

The other wounded included Germans.

 Afghanistan National Army soldiers stand guard at a gate of Camp Qargha, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 5, 2014.

One U.S. official said it is believed that the lone shooter was not an Afghan soldier, but somebody who acquired a uniform and managed to sneak on the base, though it is still under investigation.

Today's shooting is the latest in a string of so-called "green-on-blue" attacks in Afghanistan, in which members of the Afghan forces have attacked U.S. and coalition forces. There have been more than 85 green-on-blue attacks during the war, though they have become less frequent this year as fewer U.S. troops have been on the ground in Afghanistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack and noted that both Afghan and foreign soldiers were hurt.
"The soldiers were visiting the military academy to help with the buildup of Afghan security forces," Karzai said. He blamed the attack on "enemies who don't want to see Afghanistan have strong institutions."

General view of a military academy base after an Afghan soldier opened fire on NATO troops inside the premises, on the outskirts of Kabul, Aug. 5, 2014.

"We are in the process of assessing the situation," the ISAF Joint Command said in a statement. "More information will be released as we sort out the facts."