Two U.S. Generals Out Over Afghan Failure

The U.S. Marine Corps has forced two generals into retirement, effectively firing them, over a failure to defend a base in Afghanistan from a deadly Taliban attack.

General James Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps, said in a written statement that Major General Charles Gurganus and Major General Gregg Sturdevant "did not take adequate force protection measures" at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan.

Amos asked both men to retire from service, and they agreed.

Two Marines were killed and eight American personnel were injured in the September, 2012, attack, which also caused of millions of dollars in damage, including the destruction of six Harrier combat jets.

The fighting left 14 Taliban militants dead, and a 15th attacker was captured.

Based on reports from AP, AFP and Reuters