US troops abandon Afghan outpost following attack

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSISL26086420080716?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:38am EDT

By Jonathon Burch

KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. troops have pulled out of a remote outpost in northeastern Afghanistan, NATO-led security force said on Wednesday, three days after Taliban militants tried to overrun the base and killed nine U.S. soldiers.

NATO played down the significance of the withdrawal, but Taliban militants are sure to claim victory in driving foreign forces out of the wooded valley, close to the Pakistani border.

Taliban militants briefly breached the incomplete defenses of the newly established base in the Wanat district of Kunar province on Sunday and hours of fierce fighting ensued that killed nine U.S. soldiers and many more insurgents.

It was the biggest single loss of life for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since 2005.

[Arctic Dave]

1. Live to fight another day?

It might be too early to suggest this is Rome's reversal or just a savvy commander saying this parcel of land isn't worth the trouble for now.

[tuckessee]

4. Either way, it's a major propaganda/moral victory for the Taliban.

Reinforces the belief that Americans are afraid to take casualties and shows that a determined attack will achieve immediate, tangible results.

What's going to be interesting is to see how the Americans punish/pacify the locals in the area.

They'll probably use a lot of air power and H&I fire to terrorize them over the next few weeks.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. "One more such victory and we are undone." Pyrrhus of Epirus

Of course, "we" killed more insurgents and drove them off. So it must be a victory for us.

Anybody remember Westmoreland's announcement of the glorious victory of Tet during the Vietnam War?

[mediaman007]

3. Wait a minute! If we abandon the post, didn't our soldiers die in vain?

Did we cede the area to the terrorists? Who will ask these questions of our leaders/military?

No one, everyone else is excited by Hillary's new hair style.


:-(