This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/01/us/high-ranking-marine-generals-forced-to-retire-over-fatal-security-breach.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
High-Ranking Marine Generals Forced to Retire Over Fatal Security Breach Two Marine Corps Generals Are Forced to Retire Over Fatal Security Breach
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — Two senior Marine Corps generals have been ordered to take early retirement after being found responsible for errors in judgment and failure to provide adequate security at a base in southwestern Afghanistan that was the scene of a deadly — and humiliating — insurgent attack last year that killed two Marines and destroyed six Harrier attack jets.WASHINGTON — Two senior Marine Corps generals have been ordered to take early retirement after being found responsible for errors in judgment and failure to provide adequate security at a base in southwestern Afghanistan that was the scene of a deadly — and humiliating — insurgent attack last year that killed two Marines and destroyed six Harrier attack jets.
Gen. James F. Amos, the Marine Corps commandant, announced the disciplinary action on Monday. He said the punishments were unprecedented in modern Marine Corps history and were an effort “to remain true to the timeless axioms relating to command responsibility and accountability.”Gen. James F. Amos, the Marine Corps commandant, announced the disciplinary action on Monday. He said the punishments were unprecedented in modern Marine Corps history and were an effort “to remain true to the timeless axioms relating to command responsibility and accountability.”
Maj. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, formerly NATO’s regional commander in southwestern Afghanistan, was faulted for failing to properly assess risks posed by the insurgency operating outside the massive military base in Helmand Province that included camps Bastion, Leatherneck and Shorabak.Maj. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, formerly NATO’s regional commander in southwestern Afghanistan, was faulted for failing to properly assess risks posed by the insurgency operating outside the massive military base in Helmand Province that included camps Bastion, Leatherneck and Shorabak.
General Gurganus had been nominated for his third star and a senior leadership role at the Marine Corps headquarters at the Pentagon, but will retire instead.General Gurganus had been nominated for his third star and a senior leadership role at the Marine Corps headquarters at the Pentagon, but will retire instead.
Maj. Gen. Gregg A. Sturdevant, the former commander of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing forces assigned to Afghanistan, was faulted for not having established an integrated system of security at Bastion airfield, and will also take early retirement.Maj. Gen. Gregg A. Sturdevant, the former commander of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing forces assigned to Afghanistan, was faulted for not having established an integrated system of security at Bastion airfield, and will also take early retirement.
The attack occurred on Sept. 14, 2012, when members of the Taliban entered the base by clipping a fence with wire cutters. They split into three groups that engaged coalition forces in an hours-long firefight. Two Marines — Lt. Col. Christopher Raible and Sgt. Bradley Atwell — were killed and eight others were wounded when they joined the fight to repel the militants. All but one of the 15 attackers was killed. The attack occurred on Sept. 14, 2012, when members of the Taliban entered the base by clipping a fence with wire cutters. They split into three groups that engaged coalition forces in an hours-long firefight. Two Marines — Lt. Col. Christopher Raible and Sgt. Bradley Atwell — were killed and eight others were wounded when they joined the fight to repel the militants. All but one of the 15 attackers were killed.
Colonel Raible had actually raised concerns about security on the eastern side of Bastion, where the attack occurred, but it is not clear whether those concerns ever reached General Gurganus or General Sturdevant.Colonel Raible had actually raised concerns about security on the eastern side of Bastion, where the attack occurred, but it is not clear whether those concerns ever reached General Gurganus or General Sturdevant.
During the battle, insurgents also used grenades to blow up six jet fighters, valued at about $200 million, and severely damaged two others.During the battle, insurgents also used grenades to blow up six jet fighters, valued at about $200 million, and severely damaged two others.
General Amos acknowledged that the insurgent attack came after the troop presence in southwest Afghanistan had been reduced to 7,000 from 17,000 six months earlier. And he noted that a request by General Gurganus for more personnel to bolster his defenses had been turned down by his superiors.General Amos acknowledged that the insurgent attack came after the troop presence in southwest Afghanistan had been reduced to 7,000 from 17,000 six months earlier. And he noted that a request by General Gurganus for more personnel to bolster his defenses had been turned down by his superiors.
Even so, General Amos ruled that commanders were responsible for balancing the requirements for defending the base with the demands for continued combat operations.Even so, General Amos ruled that commanders were responsible for balancing the requirements for defending the base with the demands for continued combat operations.
That lesson certainly will be noted by the current group of commanders in Afghanistan, who are carrying out a mission to train, advise and assist Afghan forces even as the number of American troops falls to 34,000 by early next year from 68,000 this year. The American presence will continue shrinking before the combat mission officially ends in December 2014.That lesson certainly will be noted by the current group of commanders in Afghanistan, who are carrying out a mission to train, advise and assist Afghan forces even as the number of American troops falls to 34,000 by early next year from 68,000 this year. The American presence will continue shrinking before the combat mission officially ends in December 2014.
Meeting with reporters to discuss the disciplinary action, General Amos was asked specifically whether the inquiry and the punishments would prompt commanders in Afghanistan to become overly cautious — emphasizing security over the mission. “I don’t want that to be the message that is received,” he said.Meeting with reporters to discuss the disciplinary action, General Amos was asked specifically whether the inquiry and the punishments would prompt commanders in Afghanistan to become overly cautious — emphasizing security over the mission. “I don’t want that to be the message that is received,” he said.
General Amos, in his review, wrote that every commander is “forced to balance the ever-present and continuing mission of force-projection against force-protection requirements.”General Amos, in his review, wrote that every commander is “forced to balance the ever-present and continuing mission of force-projection against force-protection requirements.”
Although General Gurganus had asked for more forces and was often turned down, “in the end, I believe he could and should have done more,” General Amos said.Although General Gurganus had asked for more forces and was often turned down, “in the end, I believe he could and should have done more,” General Amos said.
The provinces of Helmand and Nimroz, which make up the southwestern military district in Afghanistan, were a focus of Taliban efforts to seize territory and undermine the credibility of the central government in Kabul and its supporters across the NATO military alliance. Some of the most high-profile American-led offensives of President Obama’s surge were fought along the Helmand River valley, including a centerpiece campaign to secure the town of Marja.The provinces of Helmand and Nimroz, which make up the southwestern military district in Afghanistan, were a focus of Taliban efforts to seize territory and undermine the credibility of the central government in Kabul and its supporters across the NATO military alliance. Some of the most high-profile American-led offensives of President Obama’s surge were fought along the Helmand River valley, including a centerpiece campaign to secure the town of Marja.
The inquiry found that the commanders viewed the greatest risks to the compound as insider attacks by Afghan security forces who turn on coalition troops, car bombs, mortars or rockets.The inquiry found that the commanders viewed the greatest risks to the compound as insider attacks by Afghan security forces who turn on coalition troops, car bombs, mortars or rockets.
And, in fact, a visit by then-Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta to the base confirmed that view. Just before his landing at the desert air field in March of last year, an Afghan interpreter set himself on fire and drove a truck toward a line of officers awaiting Mr. Panetta’s arrival. And, in fact, a visit by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta to the base confirmed that view. Just before his landing at the desert air field in March 2012, an Afghan interpreter set himself on fire and drove a truck toward a line of officers awaiting Mr. Panetta’s arrival.
Although officials at first played down the incident, Marine Corps officers subsequently acknowledged that the group of military dignitaries — including General Gurganus — were almost run over before the vehicle ended in a ditch.Although officials at first played down the incident, Marine Corps officers subsequently acknowledged that the group of military dignitaries — including General Gurganus — were almost run over before the vehicle ended in a ditch.
The investigation into the September attack provided detailed insight into how the insurgency operates. The lone surviving militant confirmed to investigators that the insurgents had received significant amounts of information on the base from informants on the inside.The investigation into the September attack provided detailed insight into how the insurgency operates. The lone surviving militant confirmed to investigators that the insurgents had received significant amounts of information on the base from informants on the inside.
But they had problems in carrying out the attack, which had been planned for July, but was postponed when one of their car bombs detonated prematurely and killed several members of the attack team.But they had problems in carrying out the attack, which had been planned for July, but was postponed when one of their car bombs detonated prematurely and killed several members of the attack team.
General Amos described the two generals as “lifelong friends.”General Amos described the two generals as “lifelong friends.”
“This may be the most difficult thing I’ve done in this job,” General Amos said.“This may be the most difficult thing I’ve done in this job,” General Amos said.