WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Local leaders helped Taliban militants in a deadly July attack on U.S. troops in eastern Afghanistan, an internal review by the U.S. military indicated.
The attack in which nine U.S. troops died and the outpost was overrun occurred five days after Afghan and U.S. forces began establishing the base, The New York Times reported.
The assault July 13 involved about 200 militants, nearly three times the number of U.S. and Afghan troops defending the site.
As evidence of a local police chief aiding militants, the report said the Wanat police station had more weapons and ammunition than the 20-person force needed after the militants were repelled, the Times said. Also, police officers were dressed in "crisp, clean new uniforms" and acted "as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred," the report said.
The report also said a district governor aided the militants; however, the senior U.S. commander in eastern Afghanistan decided that the district governor probably was acting under duress.
The military investigating officer recommended that the police chief be replaced, if not arrested.
The report was completed Aug. 13 and declassified recently so military officials could brief family members of those who were killed.
