Download the AOL News Toolbar
Our new toolbar integrates latest news into your Web browser and installs in seconds. Download it now!
Send Us Feedback
News Video

Find, view and share videos about news and entertainment from around the Web.
See Videos »

News Alerts

The latest updates sent straight to your inbox.

Get AOL News Alerts »

Deadly Attack on US Base in Afghanistan

By JASON STRAZIUSO
,
AP
posted: 17 HOURS 15 MINUTES AGO
comments: 249
filed under: World News
Text SizeAAA
KABUL (June 21) - A rare rocket attack on the main U.S. base in Afghanistan early Sunday killed two U.S. troops and wounded six other Americans, including two civilians, officials said.
Bagram Air Base, which lies 25 miles (40 kilometers) northeast of Kabul, is surrounded by high mountains and long stretches of desert from which militants could fire rockets. But such attacks, particularly lethal ones, are relatively rare.
Skip over this content
Two U.S. troops died and six Americans were wounded, including four military personnel and two civilians, said Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker, a U.S. military spokeswoman.
The top government official in Bagram, Kabir Ahmad, said several rockets were fired at the base early Sunday. A spokesman with NATO's International Security Assistance Force said that three rounds landed inside Bagram and one landed outside. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't the office's top spokesman.
The wounded personnel were taken to the main hospital on Bagram for treatment. ISAF said it wasn't known if any Afghan civilians living near the base were harmed in the attack.
It wasn't immediately clear if New York Times reporter David S. Rohde was at Bagram on Sunday when the rockets hit.
Skip over this content
Our new toolbar integrates latest news into your Web browser and installs in seconds. Download It Now
Rohde escaped from kidnappers in Pakistan on Friday after more than seven months in captivity and was flown to Bagram on Saturday. Embassy officials then gave him an emergency passport and FBI officials were guarding him, a U.S. official said Sunday on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the rocket attack. Mujahid also said the Taliban had no involvement in the kidnapping of Rohde and didn't know anything about his escape.
In February 2007, a suicide bomb attack outside Bagram killed 23 people while then-Vice President Dick Cheney was at the base. The attacker never tried to penetrate even the first of several U.S.-manned security checkpoints, instead detonating his explosives among a group of Afghan workers outside the base. The Taliban claimed responsibility.
Bagram is a sprawling Soviet-era base that houses thousands of troops, mostly from the 82nd Airborne Division. Most forces there are American, but many other countries also have troops at the base.
Activity at Bagram is high 24 hours a day, with jets and helicopters taking off at all hours. The base has expanded greatly the last several years and sits next to many houses and the village of Bagram itself.
The two deaths bring to at least 80 the number of U.S. forces killed in Afghanistan this year, a record pace. Last year 151 troops died in Afghanistan.
President Barack Obama ordered 21,000 additional troops to the country this year to fight an increasingly violent Taliban insurgency. There are now about 56,000 U.S. troops in the country, a record number.
Associated Press reporter Noor Khan in Kandahar and Paul Alexander in Islamabad contributed to this report.
Skip over this content

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-06-21 06:56:51
GOOD READ?
24 votes

Related Articles

  1. See More Related Articles and Blog Posts
(249)
Sort by:

1 - 10

Evansdadop

07:03 AMJun 22 2009

Covettav: Come on, it's all good...especially if Cheney gets his name on a Halliburton built pipeline through Afghanistan before he dies...oh, and all the rest of us get to revel in the heroic blood sport of the day - I mean, I think and feel that's well worth the 15 billion we've been paying and will continue to pay each month...oh, and plus for the next 50 years we'll have a lot of those PTSD soldiers roaming the streets as beggers so we can all feel better by not being them...and the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air...gave proof that the hoo-ah woof woof American way is the only way to be...I really can't think of anything else to do with the great blessings God has bestowed on this Nation...can you?

AVG RATING:
(2)

gposner29

06:04 AMJun 22 2009

When it comes to the "green zone" I guess the enemy is color blind.....

AVG RATING:
(2)

ETGAGAL

04:59 AMJun 22 2009

BDozer1947 03:20 AMJun 22 2009 I am reminded from time to time that the real war is in Afghanistan and that was where the terrorist were from. It was where bin Laden trained and the Taliban ruled like theocratic bullies. Now I see the kids are skaeboarding in Kabul.. This along with better treatment and education of women, less religious persecution so on, have been some of the positives in this war. Now its far from over and the Taliban is making a comeback so Obama is smart to step up the war. But he fails us all by staying in Iraq...******Guess like Obimbo, you think Afghanistan is one of the 57 states he claimed to visit!!!! The liar promised to bring the troops home!!! Maybe its way past time for someone to tell the idiot no country in the ME is home to any American soldier!!!!!

AVG RATING:
(2)

katekate1320

04:49 AMJun 22 2009

I am U.S girl with Sexual stature, waiting for a right man to love. All are welcome to view my video introduction at Black Community called __ Afro M ingle . C O M____ under the same username..

AVG RATING:
(1)

katekate1320

04:33 AMJun 22 2009

I am U.S girl with Sexual stature, waiting for a right man to love. All are welcome to view my video introduction at Black Community called __ Afro M ingle . C O M____ under the same username..

AVG RATING:
(1)

BDozer1947

03:20 AMJun 22 2009

I am reminded from time to time that the real war is in Afghanistan and that was where the terrorist were from. It was where bin Laden trained and the Taliban ruled like theocratic bullies. Now I see the kids are skaeboarding in Kabul.. This along with better treatment and education of women, less religious persecution so on, have been some of the positives in this war. Now its far from over and the Taliban is making a comeback so Obama is smart to step up the war. But he fails us all by staying in Iraq...

AVG RATING:
(3)

Jebby1

03:20 AMJun 22 2009

If the US catches the Taliban who launched the attack will Obama send them to an oceanside cottage in Bermuda?

AVG RATING:
(2)

Babydollmcalhany

02:15 AMJun 22 2009

My husband is there as well Destinyll. I also recieved an email sayign he was ok. Be safe baby, I miss you and love you. :(

AVG RATING:
(1)

Fullspectrumwar1

02:09 AMJun 22 2009

ok so basicly the media needs to stay out of the war........you never know whats goin on there until you go there. so before you idiots blab your mouths off go there and come back cause god knows what are media is hiding from us. Also you guys need to understand something. you guys are complaing on a war saying why should we help afghanistan. WHY SHOULDNT WE?!?!? there human were human they are the same as us no diffrent. and we complain to focus on are country but see where that got us we got attacked and now were all pissy about it and it will keep happening unless we keep peace across the world. and dont say there is never peace cause i already know that bullsh*t . please think realisticly before you comment. im tired of stupid flame wars.

AVG RATING:
(2)

Mrvegasray

01:47 AMJun 22 2009

Dumbamas PROMISED he was to 'bring our troops home' so any of you dumbama lovers are stupid- he just said that to get elected. Dumbam will get more Americans killed since WWII

AVG RATING:
(7)

1 - 10 of 249

{ JOIN the CONVERSATION }

YOU'LL BE ASKED TO REGISTER OR LOGIN BEFORE POSTING A COMMENT.

News Makers

NewsmakersAlaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she's fed up with "frivolous" ethics complaints against her.1 of 7

News Makers

All Good News, All The Time

GNN


* Want the latest Hot Seat polls delivered to your Vista desktop? Hot Seat Vista Gadget »

Politics Daily

Sports

Money

Technology

Health

Entertainment