US: Insurgents attack Bagram Air Field

[IndianaGreen]

Source: AP

May 18, 10:58 PM EDT

US: Insurgents attack Bagram Air Field

By ROBERT H. REID and AMIR SHAH
Associated Press Writer

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Insurgents launched a brazen pre-dawn assault Wednesday against the giant U.S.-run Bagram Air Field one day after a suicide bomber struck a U.S. convoy in the capital of Kabul, killing 18 people. The Kabul dead included five American troops and a Canadian and was the deadliest attack on NATO in the Afghan capital in eight months.

A U.S. statement said seven insurgents had been killed so far during the "ongoing attack" on Bagram, which included rockets, small arms and grenades. Five service members have been wounded, the statement said without specifying whether they were Americans.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on Bagram, 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Kabul. Taliban spokesman Zabaiullah Mujahid said 20 suicide attackers carried out the attack.

Capt. Chris Sukach, a U.S. spokeswoman at Bagram, said a "noncritical building" had been hit in the attack, which began about 3 a.m. Another U.S. spokeswoman, Ali Bettencourt, said sporadic explosions could be still heard around the base hours after the attack.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-05-18-22-58-48

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The attack is ongoing as this story is published.

[RainMickey]

1. Now we've got 'em right where we want 'em. n/t

[FarCenter]

2. They appear to have come into range

[saigon68]

10. "Bring Em On" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[Booster]

3. My nephew is working for a contractor at this base. So far we've

only received a phone call and he said "I'm safe". His wife and I both agree that the money ($145,000) just isn't worth it. Now all we have to do is convince him of that.

[scentopine]

6. very sorry to hear that, there is a complex problem with war as an occupation

it doesn't always lend to direct skills that are useful when war is over. The behaviors and works tasks he is learning may not blend in well in an environment with diverse people and view points. I have some experience working with active and former military in technical roles and it can be an extremely difficult and challenging adjustment.

Iraq/Afghanistan is serving as a jobs program in a bad economy - the stimulus for the rest of us. I believe this will backfire, although it looks like we will be at war forever so maybe there will always be plenty of work in these hell holes.

It is a shame there are no other opportunities for people.

[Booster]

21. He retired from the Marines last August and sells himself short

(in my opinion). He had convinced himself that he could never find a decent paying job here and he has a lot of Marine buddies who talked him into going with them. It's probably true that he could never find a job paying that much here, but he specialized in ground transportation in the Marines and I know he could get a good job with UPS, FedEx, etc. and with his pension, he would be fine. He's only 38 so he has a long way before he retires again.

[pinboy3niner]

9. I hope he stays safe

This has got to be nerve-wracking for you, and for his wife. Perhaps this will help persuade him that you're right--it's not worth it.

Best wishes.:hug:

[Booster]

22. Thank you for your kind words. He's a good guy and retired

from the Marines last August, so he's been in harm's way way too much to do it now for money.

[gratuitous]

4. Bagram?

Isn't that where that secret prison isn't located?

[IndianaGreen]

8. Yep, that's where we have part of our gulag

Worse than Gitmo they say.

[No Elephants]

12. Yes, but GITMO closed in December of 2009.

Well, symbolically, anyway.

Now, we've voluntarily limited ourselves only to "extraordinary" rendition, places like Bagram, executions in the field, etc. But, the important thing is that GITMO is no longer the symbol it was under Bush--and that symbolic closing of the symbolic prison cum torture site has earned us the respect of the world.

Just ask Amnesty International.

[No Elephants]

11. Well, it's a prison. Not sure it's existence or what goes on there is such a secret.

[The abyss]

5. Thanks for posting Indiana.

+1 recommend!

[Flaneur]

7. Busy, busy. Things seem to be picking up.

[No Elephants]

13. Fish and guests start to stink after three days.

Me, I'd say one day about the fish. Then again, I'm picky about seafood.

About the guests, I'd say one death among my peeps would more than wear out my welcome mat. Then again, I'm picky about killing innocents.

[Robb]

14. For some good perspective

Let's have a good laugh at Aljazeera's morning headline and lede.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/articles/34/45-US-led-forces-killed-in-Bagram.html">45 US-led forces killed in Bagram

At least 45 US-led forces have been killed during an attack by Taliban militants on the US-run Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, the group claims.

A Press TV correspondent quoted a Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid as saying that 45 US-led soldiers including several army generals have been killed during the attack.

Mujahid added that the attack inflicted heavy losses to the airbase.

According to the Taliban spokesman, seven Taliban militants blew themselves up at the main gate of the base, leading to its opening and letting 13 Taliban militants enter the base.

He added that the remaining militants got away successfully after achieving their aim.....

They do go on to say it's a "different account" of events.

Here's the roundup from ABC:

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/world/story/Taliban-attack-key-U-S-base-in-Afghanistan/ZGkKlSRH90Cx-HwRj8NcNQ.cspx">Taliban attack key U.S. base in Afghanistan

The second Taliban strike at NATO forces in and around the Afghan capital in as many days has killed a U.S. contractor and wounded nine service members.

The pre-dawn assault today against the giant U.S.-run Bagram Air Field near Kabul also killed at least 10 insurgents. A U.S. military statement says Taliban suicide bombers attempted to breach the base's defenses while others fired rockets and grenades inside.

A U.S. spokesman says the attack started around 3 a.m. local time, and that blasts and gunfire only subsided around midday.

No insurgents managed to get into the base, and none were able to detonate their suicide vests.....

...Remember, and it's been said on DU brazillions of times: you don't need to lie in your press releases if you're winning. Only when you're losing.

[elias49]

16. Good to hear we're winning. nt

[sabra]

17. Aljazeera.com is not Aljazeera.net...

[Robb]

18. Never said it was. nt

[Flaneur]

20. Ah, so this is what America winning Afghanistan looks like.

Not that appealing.

What did we win yesterday?

[elias49]

25. I forgot my sarcasm "smilie"

[laststeamtrain]

15. "The insurgency is on it's last legs" - I miss Dick. I miss Tim. I miss cognitive dissonance.

Not really. New names, new faces. Same shit.


Taliban attack biggest NATO base in Afghanistan

By Sardar Ahmad (AFP) – 10 hours ago

BAGRAM, Afghanistan — An audacious gun, grenade and suicide attack on the largest NATO base in Afghanistan sparked hours of battles Wednesday, killing an American contract worker and 11 militants.

Nine soldiers from the US-led foreign military force were wounded in the seven-hour gunfight at Bagram Airfield, about 60 kilometres (35 miles) north of Kabul, military spokesman Master Sargeant Tom Clementson said.

The assault by Taliban militants, one day after a suicide car bomber killed five US soldiers, a Canadian colonel and 12 Afghans in Kabul, highlighted the increasing sophistication and relentless pace of the nearly nine-year conflict.

Bagram is run primarily by the US military and is the biggest NATO base in the country. ... http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jsVBKvnGcbfs2fKjA69DVIKdA2_w

[bvar22]

19. Man, that's a "light at the end of the tunnel".

Woo-Hoo...Lets get The WAR ON!!!
All we need now is MORE troops and MORE money.
The fact that they attacked Bagram means we are WINNING!

MORE TROOPS and MORE MONEY NOW!!!!
WOO-HOO!!!

[Catherina]

23. What did we expect? Bring them home NOW! n/t

[New Dawn]

24. Kick for truth.