Chinook Down
The latest reporting about the loss of the SEALs in Afghanistan over the weekend is that the men were lost in an ambush, but one that played out differently than how I hypothesized. These new reports suggest that rather than having the raid tipped off by an inside source, the Taliban had leaked intelligence that a high value target was in a village in Wardak Province, knowing that the US would mount a raid to try to nab or kill him. The Taliban were lying in wait, and jumped the Ranger unit sent to conduct the raid, knowing that the Americans would launch a rescue mission to extricate the Rangers. The Taliban further knew that the rescue operation would have to fly down a single, narrow valley, and were in ambush on either side of the flight path, and shot down the helo.
In other words, the Taliban re-enacted a version of the Fetterman Massacre. In 1866, Indians attacked a woodcutting party outside of Fort Kearny, knowing that soldiers in the fort would sortie to defend the woodcutters. When the mixed force of cavalry and infantry ventured from the fort, a decoy party of Sioux led by Crazy Horse took off, and the soldiers followed them. Chasing them over a ridge that took them out of sight of the fort, the soldiers were set upon by a far larger group of Indians, who killed them to the man.
You have to be aggressive in war, but aggressiveness can be turned against you. This wasn’t the first time that happened, nor will it be the last.
I intend to donate to the families’ fund tonight. I am sure there will be operational changes once the investigation report is issued.
Comment by pahoben — August 10, 2011 @ 2:03 pm
pahoben: Re operational changes. So yes, it appears a rethink is underway.
Smart tactics by the Taliban, I must grudingly admit. Hopefully it’ll only work once. The North Vietnamese Army tactic of besieging a unit they had no intention of attacking and ambushing the much larger relief force was one that worked for a decade against the Americans. I sincerely hope times have changed.
Comment by Tim Newman — August 10, 2011 @ 11:36 pm
The situation with the Sony movie disgusts me. There is no ethical standard this administration will not break to achieve their goals.
Comment by pahoben — August 11, 2011 @ 9:06 am
@Tim–I grudgingly agree. @pahoben–I angrily agree. And I’m sure you’ve seen the photo of Obama saluting at Andrews, which is even more infuriating. His clear intent to associate himself with the SEALs is nauseating. He’s pretty much the anti-SEAL.
I saw the mother and father of one of the SEALS on TV this morning. They were asked if they were upset with the photo. The only thing the father would say is-Does it surprise you? There is so much wider meaning in this answer.
I read a good opinion piece last night. A female Berkeley resident who saw through the facade and realized before his election that he would bring to the entire US the same hate, division, and anti Americanism that is the norm in Berkeley.
Comment by pahoben — August 11, 2011 @ 10:06 am
@pahoben–Robin from Berkeley on American Thinker?
Yeah it was on American Thinker.
Comment by pahoben — August 11, 2011 @ 11:21 am
I hadn’t thought about it but I remember past posts on that site about Berkeley-she was probably the author of those also. If so she is always a good read. It makes sense that someone from Berkeley wouldn have insight and understand all too well what was in store for us.
Comment by pahoben — August 11, 2011 @ 12:45 pm