Two generals forced to retire
 

Two generals were forced to retire following investigations re a
a Taliban attack on Camp Bastion in Helmand province Afghanistan.

Apparently these guys were lax in their preparation of the camp defence.

Public censure of high ranking marine officers is relatively rare.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24343059

I saw that story at the WaPo. They took out a squadron of Harriers in addition to two men killed.

Reading this I am again struck by the effectiveness of the simple RPG.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19704620

You would not fucking believe what an IED can do to a 7 ton truck.

You would not believe what a lack of command responsibility does to troop morale. Check the Army and Abu Grahib prison, where the senior person holding the bag was a sergeant.

The Marine commandant got it right...the fuckup stops at the shoulders of those in command, not those being killed. About time officers, and the most senior officers, be held accountable.

While I do not have all of the necessary information, I buy your premise but not your conclusion.

I get it, the military hangs people (metaphorically) but it just isn't always someone's fault.

This is not a direct comparison but is offered to make a point: Was the Doolittle Raid someone in Japan's fault or a brilliant and daring mission so beyond the pale of normality that it resided within the "you can't prepare for everything" eventuality?

1. The attackers had American uniforms and used dry river beds on the darkest night of the year to get on the base.

2. Once discovered, they were dealt with, quickly.

3. The runway was operational again, within hours.

If the defenses were proportionally similar to other defenses used throughout the Middle East in forward areas, it would annoy me that something with minimal odds of occurring would cause death and end careers.

Either these guys got an exceedingly unlucky roll of the dice or every commander in theater allowed the same risks (if procedures were followed at Camp Bastion).

Either way, it seems they were holding the bag?

That is true.

However an IED can be built to have varying explosive content.

The picture of the popular RPG 7, an offspring of the German
panzerfaust and the American bazooka, belies its effectiveness.

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket-propelled_grenade

Zeke, the Taliban wiped out six planes at $30 million apiece, did another $40 million or so in damage to four others, and overan an aviation field the Marines were detailed to guard, killing two Marines. $220 million plus in lost planes, two dead, and base security in tatters.

This rightfully destroyed careers, and all because they needed a recon unit and an extra ten jarheads to have overwhelming support. Critical assets need adequate critical manning to be protected, and the Marines didn't fail because of lack of training, determination, or courage. They failed in their mission because of slipshod planning and logistics. That points to the CCC structure, and that goes straight to the top.

I believe there might be more to this than is announced.

Two generals!

That guy had his career ended by term limits.