A top U.S. commander in Afghanistan was relieved from his position on Friday after he made disparaging comments against President Hamid Karzai and other top leaders, according to media reports.
Maj. Gen. Peter Fuller, a deputy commander, made comments to the political website Politico that leaders in Afghanistan did not value the sacrifices made by American troops over the past 10 years, saying they are “isolated from reality.”
He also criticized Karzai’s public speaking ability, remarking that in the next elections, someone “more articulate in public” speaking should be elected.
After he was removed from his post, Afghan mission leader Gen. John Allen said Fuller’s comments do not represent the military’s attitude as a whole.
“The Afghan people are an honorable people, and comments such as these will not keep us from accomplishing our most critical and shared mission—bringing about a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan,” he told the BBC.
It is not clear if Fuller was fired or asked to resign, according to the broadcaster.
