http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/09/insurgents-posed-u-s-troops/
"Insurgent fighters wearing U.S. Army uniforms breached the defenses of the main British-run air base in southern Afghanistan on Friday. Firing guns and rockets and apparently triggering suicide vests, the attackers killed two U.S. Marines and damaged or destroyed several hangars and fueling facilities. Before they were all killed or captured, the insurgents also managed to destroy six U.S. Marine Corps jet fighters and "significantly" damage two others, landing a shocking blow against NATO air power in the region."
Holy shit.
Well clearly we need to get rid of the 1st Amendment and youtube. That would fix everything.
OK... it's one thing to be a freaky radical, but once you start destroying (beautiful) Harriers.... well.... you just become a target in my book.
Quote from: Bison on September 17, 2012, 06:56:02 AM
Well clearly we need to get rid of the 1st Amendment and youtube. That would fix everything.
I'm sure that the attack was planned for some time and any "excuses" are just "excuses of oportunity".
Quote from: pawelj on September 17, 2012, 08:52:27 AM
Quote from: Bison on September 17, 2012, 06:56:02 AM
Well clearly we need to get rid of the 1st Amendment and youtube. That would fix everything.
I'm sure that the attack was planned for some time and any "excuses" are just "excuses of oportunity".
Without question it was a very well planned attack.
Quote from: Bison on September 17, 2012, 09:32:46 AM
Quote from: pawelj on September 17, 2012, 08:52:27 AM
Quote from: Bison on September 17, 2012, 06:56:02 AM
Well clearly we need to get rid of the 1st Amendment and youtube. That would fix everything.
I'm sure that the attack was planned for some time and any "excuses" are just "excuses of oportunity".
Without question it was a very well planned attack.
As well as the Japanese relief mission of Okinawa with battleship "Yamato".
Damn, that's the same base that Prince Harry is stationed at.
And it's a major blow to Marine aviation:
Quote
Startlingly, the six destroyed Harriers represent no less than 1/15th of the Marines' entire inventory of the versatile, vertical-landing jets. The F-35B version of the stealthy Joint Strike Fighter is slated to replace the Harrier over the next 15 years.
This past week saw an alarming number of so-called "green-on-blue" attacks. The US lost four other servicemen and the Brits, two. I don' t believe the USSR stayed in Afghanistan long enough to see these kind of attacks manifest, but I suppose it was inevitable that we would see them happen. It is very sad that tribal / cultural / religious bias (coupled with xenophobia and suspicion) are basically going to undermine all the work that has been / needs to be done in Afghanistan. It's like seeing a person commit suicide by killing off one limb at a time.
Little good news out of there of late.
Quote from: mirth on September 17, 2012, 10:15:03 AM
Damn, that's the same base that Prince Harry is stationed at.
Yep, and he was probably the target they were hoping to nail.
Quote from: eyebiter on September 17, 2012, 05:57:13 AM
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/09/insurgents-posed-u-s-troops/
"Insurgent fighters wearing U.S. Army uniforms breached the defenses of the main British-run air base in southern Afghanistan on Friday. Firing guns and rockets and apparently triggering suicide vests, the attackers killed two U.S. Marines and damaged or destroyed several hangars and fueling facilities. Before they were all killed or captured, the insurgents also managed to destroy six U.S. Marine Corps jet fighters and "significantly" damage two others, landing a shocking blow against NATO air power in the region."
Damn it.
Check out the last couple of paragraphs about what would have happened if these guys were not generals.
Quote
Two senior Marine generals forced to retire over deadly Afghan attack
By Courtney Kube, Pentagon Producer, NBC News
Two senior Marine Corps generals are being forced into retirement for failing to take adequate action before an attack last year at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan that killed two Marines and destroyed a fleet of Harrier jets, officials announced Monday.
The Commandant of the Marine Corps has asked both Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus and Maj. Gen. Gregg Sturdevant to retire in the wake of several investigations as well as a review by the U.S. Central Command into accountability for the attack.
A statement from the Marine Corps said Gurganus "bore final accountability for the lives and equipment under his charge," and that he "made an error in judgment when conducting his risk assessment of the enemy's capabilities and intentions."
The statement went on to say that Sturdevant "did not adequately assess the force protection situation" at Bastion Airfield.
Gurganus, who was the overall Commander of Regional Command Southwest at the time of the September 2012 attack, had been nominated for his third star and was to take over as Chief of Marine Corps staff at the Pentagon. His nomination will be rescinded.
Sturdevant, who commanded the aviation arm of the Marine element at Bastion during the attack, will receive a Secretary of the Navy Letter of Censure. However, both men will retire honorably and with full benefits.
The September 14-15, 2012 complex attack resulted in the deaths of Lt. Col. Christopher Raible and Sgt. Bradley Atwell. Eight other service members were wounded and six aircraft (Harrier jets) were destroyed.
The assault remains one of the most brazen, highly-coordinated attacks on a military compound in Afghanistan in more than a decade of war. In addition to the loss of life, Harrier jets run about $24 million each -- making it one of the most expensive attacks of the war, as well.
One senior U.S. defense official told NBC News that Gurganus' punishment does not go far enough, and that if Gurganus was not a general he would have faced a court martial, not been allowed to retire with full benefits.
"Marines are dead and six aircraft were destroyed. A Lance Corporal would fry for a lot less than that," the official said.
Speaking to accountability, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos wrote:
"Our Marines have a right to demand that in return for their loyalty, selfless sacrifice, and brave service, the commanders in whom the nation has entrusted its sons and daughters will take all appropriate steps to ensure their safety and well-being."
Rank hath its privileges I guess. :/
Shocking.
How come this was never in the news earlier?
the attack itself was all over the news last year.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on September 30, 2013, 10:17:34 PM
the attack itself was all over the news last year.
Did they say 6 harriers were taken out? I think I would have remembered that.
yes they did.
Yep I was even bigger news because Prince Harry was there.
There was much outcry at the time because 6 harriers is a not so insignificant a number given that there are actually so few still in USMC service, around a hundred or so combat worthy air frames. Many of those are an older variant less capable than the upgraded ones lost in Afghanistan.
Quote from: jomni on October 01, 2013, 06:41:06 AM
Yep I was even bigger news because Prince Harry was there.
I remember the news of the attack on his base, maybe that drowned out the harriers story in these parts.