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US rethinks tiny, remote but vital Afghan outposts
COMBAT OUTPOST SPERA: US troops were strapping on their gear for a 3:30 am patrol along Afghanistan's border with Pakistan when word came to stand down: Soldiers were hearing heavy radio chatter among insurgents, raising suspicions of a coming attack.Within 20 minutes the shooting had started, continuing steadily for two hours while militants attacked tiny Combat Outpost Spera from three sides with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. Troops from the 101st Airborne Division fought back with rifles, heavy machine guns, and grenade launchers until the insurgents faded away at dawn. The March 29 battle was typical of those at tiny bases known as combat outposts, or COPs, which are being re-evaluated as more emphasis is being placed on using forces to defend population centres. Last week's withdrawal from the Korengal Valley, the scene of some of the war's most intense fighting, underscored the new policy, and was tacit admission that maintaining remote, difficult-to-defend outposts was not the best use of resources. Still, the soldiers at COP Spera - where it will be maintained or abandoned is not yet clear - believe the post is important in disrupting insurgent operations and cross-border infiltration in the eastern province of Khost. It's important for the local people, all my guys understand that,' said 1st Sgt Jason Scapanski of Foley, Minnesota. Securing this area also secures the local people and if we can bring stability into this area we can start to work on the schools and the clinics that they're asking for.' While plans to move troops away from remote outposts have long been in the works, they were hastened by an attack in October on COP Keating north of Khost that left eight American soldiers dead. A year before, nine Americans were killed at an outpost near Wanat. Both posts were given up, and insurgents trumpeted the US pullbacks as defeat, with their fighters shown in videos swarming through the abandoned bases. Command Sgt Maj Michael T Hall, the top enlisted man among international troops in Afghanistan, says that's to be expected but won't affect the goal of deploying limited resources in the most effective way'. We don't and never will have enough troops to control the entire country,' Hall said. Posted by: Steve White 2010-04-25 |
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