Carnage at Camp Bastion

In the most destructive day on US aviation since the Vietnam war, 6 Marine Harriers were destroyed and 2 were seriously damaged. At about $27 million each that's $216 million dollars in damage inflicted by 15 Taliban sappers dressed in US Army fatigues. Two Marines were killed in action, the squadron commander and an electrical systems technician.

Half of the Marines Harriers in Afghanistan were destroyed and 7% of the total 120 Harriers that the Marines own were destroyed.

                              Camp Bastion wasn't any bastion at all.

"The attack began at 10 p.m. Friday night when a band of 15 enemy fighters somehow eluded detection by security cameras which scan the entire perimeter of Camp Bastion. Dressed in U.S. army uniforms, they cut their way through the outer wire and blew a hole through the base wall. Armed with automatic weapons, rocket propelled grenade launchers and suicide vests, they split into teams -- each going after a separate target. One went for the harrier jet fighters, another for the fueling stations, and a third for the helicopters. Within 30 minutes, the damage was done. A quick reaction force finally arrived and after a two-hour firefight, killed 14 attackers and wounded one who is now in custody."

One U.S. official put it simply: "We have got to do a better job at protecting our troops."

What kind of security lets a squad and a half of Taliban on the airfield, with or without american uniforms? Broke through a wall? Not much of a "wall" if a blast can break it down. Worse yet, a bunch of Neanderthal savages planned and executed the attack. There was definitely a tragic failure of imagination amongst security personnel on-site.

This war is going to get more tragic and dangerous as NATO forces withdraw from Afghanistan. God help the last men leaving.