How The Taliban Breached The 'Impregnable' Desert Fortress

London Sunday Telegraph ^ | 9/16/12 | Rayment

[pabianice]

IT WAS supposed to be impregnable - the safest military base in the world. A veritable fortress positioned in the middle of the arid, empty Helmand desert, isolated but not vulnerable.

It was often said of Camp Bastion that the only correct decision that Britain made during its torrid history in Afghanistan was to build the base in the middle of nowhere, with isolation as its primary strength.

Anyone approaching from any direction should be easily spotted, tracked, identified - and, should they pose a threat, destroyed. That, at least, was the theory.

But the events of last Friday, when a force of Taliban gunmen managed to move up to and breach the security at Bastion at about 10pm local time, supposedly without being seen or heard, have sent a shock wave through Nato's high command.

Initial reports state that the Taliban had been monitoring the eastern side of Camp Bastion for at least two weeks and had been posing as farmers in a maize plantation.

The attack only ever had one aim. It was a suicide mission designed to demonstrate that the Taliban can attack any Nato installation, no matter how secure.

[Monterrosa-24]

Did not find article at the link.

[CodeToad]

“The attack only ever had one aim. It was a suicide mission designed to demonstrate that the Taliban can attack any Nato installation, no matter how secure.”

Just how does the author KNOW that was the only aim? Total drama on its part.

[Zhang Fei]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9545508/Ive-been-inside-Camp-Bastion-and-it-seemed-like-the-safest-place-on-earth.html

[livius]

I couldn’t find the article - is there a direct link to it?

[Jeff Chandler]

If only Western journalists would write in such glowing terms about the NATO military personnel. They get plenty of ink when they do something wrong, though.

[Monterrosa-24]

UAVs used for observation are great but there are limits to their effectiveness.

The UAV video has to be carefully observed requiring alert personnel.

The enemy will create interesting and suspicious activity as a distraction for the UAVs while important activity is taking place elsewhere.

Normal civilian activity may obscure or cover infiltration.

[Bender2]

Re: Did not find article at the link.

Gadzooks! Did not find... link? Try http://conman-currentmil-technews.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-taliban-breached-impregnable-desert.html

[livius]

Thanks.

Interesting article. The attack was clearly coordinated on the basis of inside information.

I read this morning that one of the Marines killed was one of the most senior Marines to have been killed in the war. He was the commander of the Harrier squadron. Wonder if they knw that, too?

[Zhang Fei]

Interesting article. The attack was clearly coordinated on the basis of inside information.

My guess is that the people responsible for security probably slacked off, figuring that geography would do most of their job for them. It's perfectly natural and works most of the time. Until it stops working...

[Roccus]

How The Taliban Breached The 'Impregnable' Desert Fortress

KNOCK KNOCK
"Who's there?"
"Candygram."

[livius]

Probably. Also, they were obviously too comfortable with the locals. Letting them “farm maize” that close to the base was not a good idea.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

It’s pretty obvious, wait until you hear the JAWS theme. When you hear the Duh Da, Duh Da they are at the gate easy peasy.

[EternalVigilance]

Move the locals or move the base. It’s that simple.

[uncbob]

If this attack had taken place under Bush CBS NBC ABC CNN would lead with it and give it extensive coverage

[aimhigh]

It’s pretty hard to win a war when you can’t tell who the enemy is. It’s time to pull out. There is nothing worth saving over there. If the Muzzies rise up again, bomb them back to dust and leave again.

[robowombat]

However what I do find are plugins for this array of Obama propaganda. Apparently the libs really believe calling Obama out for the current implosion of his Mideast policies and speaking at a fundraiser and saying the paliwogs have no interest in peace and that BHO’s supporters are disproportionately recipients of federal aid are all beyond the pale and will cause the very important ‘moderate independents’ to flock to BHO. These people are really delusional:

The spectacular implosion of Mitt Romney
Iain Martin »
New video could kill Mitt Romney's chances
Tim Stanley »

Mitt Romney, the new Mike Dukakis
Dan Hodges »

[Shery]

The increase int he numbers of NATO personnel deaths and the stupid continuing policy to train Afghanis should have given some of our NATO military leaders pause. I cannot believe that they thought this so impregnable, especially with them taking every possible opportunity to kill as many as possible. Are Afghanis the gate keepers there? The security people? I’m sure there must be some among the security staff.

[LucianOfSamasota]

General George S. Patton — when asked about the Siegfried Line — reportedly said “Fixed fortifications are monuments to the stupidity of man.”

Ask Churchill about the impregnable fortress of Singapore.

War is about eliminating your enemy’s ability to resist.

[Travis McGee]

http://www.michaelyon-online.com/afghanistan-when-the-moon-sets-watch-out.htm

Here is a terrific story on how the Taliban pulled off the attack by a former SFer, the incomparable Michael Yon.

“Afghanistan: When the moon sets, watch out!”