U.S. Military Faults Leaders in Deadly Attack on Base
By ROD NORDLAND
NYT
KABUL, Afghanistan — The United States military on Friday issued a long-awaited report on how Taliban insurgents managed to overrun an American Army combat outpost and kill eight soldiers last October in one of the worst single ground attacks in recent years.
Family members of the dead were notified about the results of the investigation on Thursday. They were told that “the report also recommended administrative actions for some members of the chain of command to improve command oversight.” Citing privacy reasons, the military did not reveal what those actions were or who was penalized.
The base, C.O.P. Keating in the Kamdesh District of Nouristan Province, was attacked by Taliban forces on Oct. 3. Because the outpost was located in a deep bowl surrounded by high ground, the attackers were able to pin down defenders and prevent them from using mortars to repel the initial attack. In addition, air support was at least 45 minutes away. A second, smaller outpost nearby was also targeted by the attackers.
The Taliban quickly overran the base, entering the perimeter through a latrine area, setting fires that burned down most of the barracks, and managing to kill the 8 soldiers and wound 22. The casualties numbered half of the approximately 60 defenders from B Troop of the 3rd Squadron, 61st Calvary.
(More here.)
NYT
KABUL, Afghanistan — The United States military on Friday issued a long-awaited report on how Taliban insurgents managed to overrun an American Army combat outpost and kill eight soldiers last October in one of the worst single ground attacks in recent years.
Family members of the dead were notified about the results of the investigation on Thursday. They were told that “the report also recommended administrative actions for some members of the chain of command to improve command oversight.” Citing privacy reasons, the military did not reveal what those actions were or who was penalized.
The base, C.O.P. Keating in the Kamdesh District of Nouristan Province, was attacked by Taliban forces on Oct. 3. Because the outpost was located in a deep bowl surrounded by high ground, the attackers were able to pin down defenders and prevent them from using mortars to repel the initial attack. In addition, air support was at least 45 minutes away. A second, smaller outpost nearby was also targeted by the attackers.
The Taliban quickly overran the base, entering the perimeter through a latrine area, setting fires that burned down most of the barracks, and managing to kill the 8 soldiers and wound 22. The casualties numbered half of the approximately 60 defenders from B Troop of the 3rd Squadron, 61st Calvary.
(More here.)
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