U.S. Military Launches Probe Into Successful Taliban Attack At Camp Bastion That Destroyed A Squadron Of Marine AV-8B Harrier Jets

Image: The Camp Bastion attack involved three tightly choreographed teams of militants. New York Times

U.S. Military Launches Probe Into Deadly Assault In Afghanistan -- Washington Post

The U.S. military has launched a formal investigation into whether a two-star Marine Corps general and his subordinates bear responsibility for lax security at a large coalition base in southwestern Afghanistan where a Taliban ambush killed two Marines and destroyed a half-dozen U.S. fighter jets.

Although the attack last year resulted in the largest loss of allied materiel in the 11-year-long Afghan war, Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus, then the top U.S. commander on the base, did not order a formal U.S. military investigation into the security lapses.

The Washington Post reported in April that British forces, who were responsible for security on the side of the base that was attacked, handed off the job of manning watchtowers to Tongan soldiers, who left several of the towers unmanned. Security patrols of the perimeter, which are conducted by the Marines, also had been scaled back substantially in the months leading up to the attack.

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Previous Posts On This Successful Taliban Attack At Camp Bastion That Destroyed A Squadron Of Marine AV-8B Harrier Jets

How The Taliban Succeeded In Penetrating Camp Bastian And Destroying Six U.S. Harrier Jump Jets -- September 17, 2012
U.S. Marine Harrier Squadron Commander Killed In Taliban Attack At Camp Bastion -- September 18, 2012
Inside Camp Bastion -- September 24, 2012
The Aftermath Of The Taliban Raid On Camp Bastion Is Still Being Felt -- September 25, 2013
The Battle At Camp Bastion As Told By Those Who Fought The Insurgents -- October 2, 2012
New Detials On The Taliban Attack Against Camp Bastion -- February 11, 2013

My Comment: Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus .... who was the top U.S. commander on the base at the time ... is now slated for a third star. Hmmmm .... it looks like someone is in disagreement with this promotion.