US forces leave isolated Afghan base after attack

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

KABUL (AP) - U.S. forces have withdrawn from an isolated base in eastern Afghanistan that insurgents attacked last week in one of the deadliest battles of the war for U.S. troops, the NATO-led coalition said Friday.

The pullout from the Kamdesh outpost near the Pakistani border is likely to embolden insurgent fighters in the region. The Taliban swiftly claimed "victory" for forcing the coalition to leave and said they had raised their flag above the town.

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The firefight in Kamdesh left eight Americans, three Afghans and an estimated 100 insurgents dead, according to NATO. Insurgents fought their way into the base during the battle, a rare breach of security that underscored how thinly manned the post was. It was the largest loss of U.S. life in a single skirmish in more than a year.

The Kamdesh base was largely burned down during the violence. But U.S. Master Sgt. Thomas Clementson said the damage did not affect the timing of the withdrawal and the U.S. was "just days" away from pulling out when the attack happened.

Clementson said coalition forces destroyed what was left of the outpost. The action was likely taken to prevent insurgents from using the base.

Speaking by telephone from an undisclosed location, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the U.S. bombarded the outpost with airstrikes after leaving, as well as the local police headquarters.

"This means they are not coming back," Mujahid said. "This is another victory for Taliban. We have control of another district in eastern Afghanistan."

"Right now Kamdesh is under our control, and the white flag of the Taliban is raised above Kamdesh," Mujahid said.

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In the eastern province of Paktia, a suicide car bomber rammed a convoy of road construction workers in Wazi Zadran district on Friday, killing five people and wounding four others, said provincial police chief Gen. Azizudin Wardak.

In Kunar, another eastern province bordering Pakistan, around 100 insurgents attacked a series of checkpoints and the police headquarters in Chapadura district, said the region's police chief Khalilullah Zaiyi. Seven of the attackers were killed in the ensuing gunbattle, and four police were wounded, Zaiyi said.

On Thursday, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to extend U.N. authorization for the NATO force in Afghanistan for a year, underlining the importance of protecting civilians at a time when the U.S. and international commitment to the war is under review. The resolution calls for more personnel, equipment and other resources for NATO's International Security Assistance Force.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091009/D9B7HP4G0.html

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

We were in in the process of leaving that base. That's why they attacked when they did. Next time we don't need to transmit our intentions.

[Dakine 26]

Where does Taliban get all their weapons and ammo??

[Peikko 1,575]

Arms manufacturers. There are a lot of them about.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Where does Taliban get all their weapons and ammo??

Tbay

[HYENA 4]

http://www.registan.net/index.php/2009/10/...otos-of-kamdesh

shows you how remote and easy it is to attack

Where does Taliban get all their weapons and ammo??

They used to be from Russia, China and now Iran.

like Iran contra...usually the US will befriend someone then they'll turn on us (we learn nothing)

Edited October 9, 2009 by HYENA