The now-forgotten punishments stemmed from their roles in a July 13, 2008, ambush by foreign fighters on a US outpost in Wanat province where nine paratroopers died and 27 more were injured. The incident fueled an outcry from the families of soldiers who have died in Afghanistan, who say incompetent tactics and leadership have been killing soldiers without anyone being held accountable.
The timing of today’s decision raises questions about whether the Army hoped the Wanat findings would be overshadowed by the bigger national news story on the resignation of Afghanistan commander General Stanley McChrystal.
Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) said, “I find it deeply troubling that the Army has exonerated these officers and in the process rejected the findings of the independent review… This development raises concerns regarding the principle of command accountability in the Army.”
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