Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe fears the weekend shooting of 16 Afghan civilians by an American soldier will lead to a stronger Taliban in Afghanistan and add to their numbers.

“It could have just really bad repercussions because a lot of those people that were killed of the 16- I think- 9 were women and children and in the way it happened, I just, nobody really knows yet,” says Inhofe.

He is a member of the Senate Armed Services committee.

“I think everyone agrees on one thing, and that is, it was an isolated case. It was one individual.  He did this and then turned himself in and we really don’t know anything more about it,” says Inhofe.

He is concerned that the Taliban will use the shooting deaths as a recruiting tool.

“They can use this to really help their cause because, you know. just waiting for something like this to happen,” says Inhofe.

As for President Obama's apology to Afghanistan, Senator Inhofe says this might be the first time an apology was justified.