Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

In Wanat, US Learns Value, Pain of Retreat

In Waygal Valley, leaving has helped the cause.

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 6, 2009 8:11 AM CDT

(Newser) – Days after the bloody battle that has come to be called the "Black Hawk Down" of Afghanistan, US troops left the the isolated Afghan village of Wanat. Fourteen months later, they haven’t returned, giving the Taliban free reign in the Waygal Valley—but the retreat is starting to look like a strategic success. Rather than fight to maintain a remote and vulnerable base, officials have watched friction between the Taliban and Wanat residents grow. Village elders are turning to American forces for help, with the Americans demanding help in turn.

The dangers of persistence are illustrated all too vividly a few miles south in Korengal Valley, where troops have spent years under constant attack from villagers paid off by the Taliban. “Right now, we are the economy in the Korengal Valley,” says the area’s US battalion commander, who’s decided to withdraw from there, too. "I have a full-sized company dedicated to a valley with a population of 4,200 people," he said. "I am sure there are valleys in Afghanistan with 100,000 people and no US troops. You have got to ask yourself: Why? Why is this one valley so strategically important?"

Map locates Wanat, Afghanistan, where the US military has abandoned a nearby outpost.

Afghan National Army soldiers and a US Marine run through a cloud from a smoke grenade they dropped to obscure their escape as Taliban fighters fire on them in the Korengal Valley, May 16, 2009. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

Hamid Karzai is in Pakistan today to discuss negotiations

(NEWSER) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Pakistan today, one day after telling the Wall Street Journal that his country has entered into three-way peace talks with the Taliban and the US. Karzai is in Pakistan to discuss the negotiations and request that country's help; Islamabad's cooperation is necessary, since Taliban fighters have reportedly been receiving support from Pakistan, the New York Times notes. The recent talks signal a breakthrough, considering the Taliban has up until now insisted it would not negotiate with Karzai's "puppet regime." More»

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

'Captain Wales' to return to Afghanistan this year; he'll be Taliban target

(NEWSER) - Newly qualified Apache helicopter pilot Prince Harry is expected to return to Afghanistan for a tour of duty this year, and the people he might be shooting at aren't happy about it. "A prince should use his position to help people, not to come and kill people around the world," a Taliban spokesman tells the Telegraph . Harry, whose training included a stint in the US , is expected to serve as a co-pilot gunner in a two-man crew. More»

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

(NEWSER) - The United States may be wrapping up its combat operations in Afghanistan a year early, but the fight against insurgents and terrorists will continue in the form of US special forces, who are expected to stay in the country well after 2014, reports the New York Times . According to the Pentagon's plan, which has not yet been greenlighted by President Obama, conventional forces would be the first to withdraw from Afghanistan, but thousands of special forces would continue, or perhaps grow, especially Green Berets. More»

Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit New High

More than 3K killed, mostly by Taliban

(NEWSER) - Last year was the worst for violence against Afghan civilians since the UN started keeping track five years ago, with 3,021 killed, according to the AP . The UN report attributed the 8% rise in civilian killings to a surge in roadside bombs and suicide attacks by insurgents, with Taliban-affiliated militants responsible for more than 75% of those killings. It is the fifth straight year that the civilian death toll has gone up, and last year that number was nearly twice as high as in 2007. More»

Panetta: US Combat Role in Afghanistan Over in 2013

But American, NATO troops will still have 'robust' advisory role

(NEWSER) - At some point next year, the US will no longer be fighting a war in Afghanistan for the first time in a decade. "Hopefully by mid to the latter part of 2013 we’ll be able to make a transition from a combat role to a training, advise, and assist role,” defense chief Leon Panetta told reporters today. That applies to NATO troops as well, and it's the first time the Obama administration has put a date on it, reports the New York Times and Washington Post . More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

In Wanat, US Learns Value, Pain of Retreat

In Waygal Valley, leaving has helped the cause.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • Taliban • US military • troop withdrawal • Wanat • Korengal Valley

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

Hamid Karzai is in Pakistan today to discuss negotiations

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

'Captain Wales' to return to Afghanistan this year; he'll be Taliban target

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit New High

More than 3K killed, mostly by Taliban

Panetta: US Combat Role in Afghanistan Over in 2013

But American, NATO troops will still have 'robust' advisory role

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

In Wanat, US Learns Value, Pain of Retreat

In Waygal Valley, leaving has helped the cause.

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • Taliban • US military • troop withdrawal • Wanat • Korengal Valley

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

Hamid Karzai is in Pakistan today to discuss negotiations

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

'Captain Wales' to return to Afghanistan this year; he'll be Taliban target

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit New High

More than 3K killed, mostly by Taliban

Panetta: US Combat Role in Afghanistan Over in 2013

But American, NATO troops will still have 'robust' advisory role

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?