The present-day U.S. military qualifies by any measure as highly professional, much more so than its Cold War predecessor. Yet the purpose of today’s professionals is not to preserve peace but to fight unending wars in distant places. Intoxicated by a post-Cold War belief in its own omnipotence, the United States allowed itself to be drawn into a long series of armed conflicts, almost all of them yielding unintended consequences and imposing greater than anticipated costs. Since the end of the Cold War, U.S. forces have destroyed many targets and killed many people. Only rarely, however, have they succeeded in accomplishing their assigned political purposes. . . . [F]rom our present vantage point, it becomes apparent that the “Revolution of ‘89” did not initiate a new era of history. At most, the events of that year fostered various unhelpful illusions that impeded our capacity to recognize and respond to the forces of change that actually matter.

Andrew Bacevich


Monday, August 24, 2009

War News for Monday, August 24, 2009

MNF-Iraq is reporting the death of a Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldier from a combat related injury in an undisclosed location in Baghdad on Sunday, August 23rd.

NATO is reporting the deaths of two ISAF soldiers in an IED attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Sunday, August 23rd. The Washington Post reports these to be Estonian soldiers.

The Washington Post is reporting the death of an American ISAF soldier in an insurgent attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Sunday, August 23rd.


Iraq’s Second Oil Bidding Round Needs Higher Fees to Succeed:

Vote fraud allegations increase in Afghanistan:

Obama authorises elite interrogation team: Report:

Spy planes diverted to Afghanistan war:

Radioactive US weapons taking toll in Iraq:

U.S. Military Says Its Force in Afghanistan Is Insufficient:

26 terrorists killed in NW Iran:


Reported Security incidents:

Diyala Prv:
#1: A mortar struck a private home in the Iraqi province of Diyala, killing one civilian and injuring two others, all members of the same family. The attack of unknown origin occurred in the village of al- Saadiya, the Yaqen news agency reported.


Amarra:
#1: Police forces on Monday defused a roadside bomb and seized arms and ammunition in Missan, said the relations and media director of the province’s police. “The roadside bomb was defused at al-Askari neighborhood, central Amara city,” Colonel Sadeq Salam told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: Gunmen shot dead an Afghan television journalist and severely wounded his colleague Monday in northwestern Pakistan. Janullah Hashim Zada was gunned down as he travelled on a public minibus from Torkham on the Afghan border to the main northwestern city of Peshawar, said Khyber Agency official Omair Khan. Zada's colleague, Ali Khan, was seriously hurt with a gunshot wound to the neck. Both men worked for Afghan-based Shamshad TV. Zada also provided material from time to time to other news organizations, including The Associated Press. The driver of the minibus, Abbas Khan, said a white car forced his vehicle to stop after it passed near the town of Jamrud. Three gunmen inside then opened fire on the vehicle.


DoD: Spc. Justin R. Pellerin

DoD: Sgt. Matthew L. Ingram

DoD: Spc. Troy O. Tom

DoD: Pfc. Jonathan C. Yanney

MoD: Warrant Officer Eerik Salmus

MoD: Sergeant Raivis Kang

Posted by whisker at 3:31 AM

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)