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


Friday, April 1, 2011

War News for Friday, April 01, 2011

Iraq war: estimated 1 million dead/ 5 million misplaced

1.611 mln registered Afghans refugees living in Pakistan


Reported security incidents

Baghdad:
#1: Three civilians were wounded on Thursday when a mortar shell hit a house in central Baghdad, according to a security source. "A mortar shell hit a house near the Polish embassy in al-Aarsat region, central Baghdad, wounding three civilians," the source told news agency. "Two more shells landed near the Green Zone and the Babel hotel in al-Jadieriya region, central Baghdad, with no word on damage," the same source said.


Abu Ghraib:
#1: Unknown gunmen wearing military uniforms raided the house of a former member of the awakening council in Al Haswa region in Abu Ghraib District, western Baghdad and killed him, a source told Alsumaria.


Amarra:
#1: A bomb exploded late Thursday near a U.S. vehicle patrol in central Amara city, according to chairman of the security and defense commission of the Missan council. “The explosion that targeted a U.S. vehicle patrol occurred near the Missan police department in central Amara,” Sarhan Salem Younnis told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “The blast caused no casualties or material damage,” he added.


Mosul:
#1: Two civilians were wounded when attackers hurled a hand grenade at a police patrol in western Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, a police source said.

#2: A man was killed by gunfire in a commercial area in central Mosul, a police source said.


Al Anbar Prv:
#1: At least three Iraqi soldiers were killed on Friday in a suicide bombing, police officials told CNN. The incident occurred in the Anbar province city of Falluja, 37 miles, or 60 kilometers, west of Baghdad, Iraq's capital. A suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest at a group of soldiers near an army post in the central part of the city. Among the three dead was Iraqi army officer Col. Khalid Abbass. At least three civilians were wounded.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: Three security guards have been killed by suspected militants at a Nato truck terminal in a volatile district of north-west Pakistan, officials say. The attack took place in Landi Kotal town in the Khyber tribal district on the Afghan border. Ten oil tankers were damaged.

#2: Pakistani tribesmen gunned down a suspected suicide bomber as he tried to attack a market area in the northwestern tribal region of Darra Adamkhel on Friday. One tribesman was killed and two wounded when the explosives strapped to the body of the bomber exploded, a senior government official in the region said.


DoD: Sgt. 1st Class Ofren Arrechaga

DoD: Staff Sgt. Frank E. Adamski III

DoD: Spc. Jameson L. Lindskog

DoD: Pvt. Jeremy P. Faulkner

Posted by whisker at 3:24 AM

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