There has been alot of media attention on the recent attack by Taliban insurgents on our troops in Afghanistan... I'm sure you've read about the soldiers of 173rd Airborne who fought off a massive assault losing 9 good troops and several more wounded.
What is interesting to note, is that the position this Infantry platoon was occupying was a temporary recon OP (Observation Post).
This was not a coalition base, not a FOB or a COP but a temporary postition. They were not overrun, they fought hard and defended their position. There is no telling what the toll was on the enemy, but I would have to hazard a guess and say it had to have been significant. This particular infantry unit is nearing the end of it's tour and has conducted around 9,000 patrols...they are tough as nails veterans and they still won the day.
Funny how the media misconstrues the facts to present what appeared to be a defeat. I am offended on so many levels by this.
The money quote is this:
"If there’s no combat outpost to abandon, there’s no position to abandon," he said. "It’s a bunch of vehicles like we do on patrol anywhere and we hold up for a night and pick up any tactical positions that we have with vehicle patrol bases.
"We do that routinely.... We’re always doing that when go out and stay in an area for longer then a few hours, and that’s what it is. So there is nothing to abandon. There was no structures, there was no COP or FOB or anything like that to even abandon. So, from the get-go, that is just [expletive], and it’s not right."
He also didn’t like the media’s characterization that his men were "overrun."
"As far as I know, and I know a lot, it was not overrun in any shape, manner or form," an emotional Preysler said. "It was close combat to be sure — hand grenade range. The enemy never got into the main position. As a matter of fact, it was, I think, the bravery of our soldiers reinforcing the hard-pressed observation post, or OP, that turned the tide to defeat the enemy attack."
"We do that routinely.... We’re always doing that when go out and stay in an area for longer then a few hours, and that’s what it is. So there is nothing to abandon. There was no structures, there was no COP or FOB or anything like that to even abandon. So, from the get-go, that is just [expletive], and it’s not right."
He also didn’t like the media’s characterization that his men were "overrun."
"As far as I know, and I know a lot, it was not overrun in any shape, manner or form," an emotional Preysler said. "It was close combat to be sure — hand grenade range. The enemy never got into the main position. As a matter of fact, it was, I think, the bravery of our soldiers reinforcing the hard-pressed observation post, or OP, that turned the tide to defeat the enemy attack."
The original article is over at Stars & Stripes.
Way to go Troops!
And a GREAT BIG FLIPPIN' BIRD to the MSM at this....
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