In July 2008, a platoon of soldiers manning an outpost near the village of Wanat was attacked by approximately 200 insurgents. Nine American were killed, and 27 wounded. Families of the soldiers demanded an investigation, and an independent military review concluded that the brigade, battalion and company commanders should be punished for having too few troops at the remote outpost and not supplying them properly. The report found that there was “growing hostility” towards the American troops in Wanat, and that one day before the attack, spy planes were withdrawn from the area despite the desperate objections of the troops.

 

But the review’s recommendations were rejected last week by senior Army commanders who believe that punishing the officers would send the wrong message to others fighting the war.

 

David Brostrom, a former Army colonel whose son was among those killed at Wanat, accused the service of reinforcing “leadership failure.”

 

U.S. Senator Jim Webb (D-Virginia), a former Marine who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the decision was “deeply troubling” and added that it raised “concerns regarding the principle of command accountability in the Army.”

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

No Punishment after Deadly Afghanistan Firefight (by Richard Lardner, Associated Press)

Families of 22 Americans Killed in Afghanistan Demand Investigation of Generals (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

Weapons Failed U.S. Soldiers during Fatal Afghanistan Battle (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)

Paper on Wanat Battle 2008 (by Douglas Cubbison, US Army Combat Studies Institute) (pdf)