Friday's Insurgent Attack On Marine Camp Bastion in SW Afghanistan

[OKCTalker]

This hasn't been widely-reported, perhaps buried by news of other Mideast terrorism.

The results of an attack Friday on a U.S. Marine base in Afghanistan: Two Marines dead, nine wounded, six Harriers destroyed, two extensively damaged, three refueling stations destroyed, six aircraft hangars damaged. One of the two KIA was the unit’s commanding officer, 40-year-old Lt. Col. Chris Raible.

Fifteen insurgents dividing into three teams breached Camp Bastion’s perimeter fence Friday night dressed in U.S. Army uniforms. They were armed with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and suicide vests. All attackers were killed except one who was injured.

(Quoting WSJ.com) A person familiar with the base's operations said the attack would have required advance scouting and perhaps inside assistance. Comparing the attack to a less successful suicide assault on Kandahar Air Field in 2010, the person said: "When they tried to come up there [in 2010], they were completely shut down before crossing the gate. Obviously, this was a much more successful attempt. They're learning how to defeat the base defenses."

In financial figures, the Harriers cost approximately $35 million apiece in 2012 dollars (they are no longer in production), so the loss of six equates to more than $200 million. All-in, the damage would exceed a quarter of a billion dollars.

The Taliban claimed responsibility, claiming the attack was in response to a video clip that ridiculed Muhammad.

[Roadhawg]

That was on a British base wasn't it? The Taliban didn't need an excuse but the film provided them one.

[CaptDave]

Most significant news of the day was word that ISAF is suspending joint operations with Afghan forces. No ISAF forces are permitted to conduct ops with ANA or other Afghan forces without general officer (I think) approval. They are also halting training Afghan Police recruits.