Investigation finds Afghan who killed US major general was a disgruntled private, not Taliban

CAIRO – A U.S. military report has found that the Afghan soldier who shot and killed an American major general in August was not a Taliban operative, but rather a disgruntled private who found a "target of opportunity."

U.S. Central Command released the report Thursday that investigated the slaying of Maj. Gen. Harold J. Greene, the highest-ranked U.S. officer to be killed in combat since 1970 in the Vietnam War.

The report describes how the Afghan soldier named Rafiqullah opened fire with an M-16 assault rifle from a bathroom window overlooking an outdoor meeting Greene and other high-ranking officials attended Aug. 5 at Marshal Fahim National Defense University, west of the Afghan capital, Kabul.

The attack wounded 18 people, including German Brig. Gen. Michael Bartscher. Rafiqullah was killed in a shootout.