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, February 17, 2012

War News for Friday, February 17, 2012

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada died from a non-combat related training incident in Djibouti on Tuesday, February 14th. He was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from a non-combat related injury somewhere in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, February 16th.


Afghan drug war debacle: Blair said smashing opium trade was a major reason to invade but 10 years on heroin production is up from 185 tons a year to 5,800

Fearing infiltration, Afghan army gives soldiers with ties to Pakistan an ultimatum

US intentions to militarise Asia

FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Feb 17

Health groups discover radioactive materials in Iraq Fallujah


Reported security incidents
#1: An explosion killed five people and injured several others in Pakistan's tribal region on Friday, a senior government official told CNN. Authorities were still trying to determine what caused the explosion, said Shahab Ali Shah, the top government official of Kurrum Agency, one of the seven districts of Pakistan's volatile tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The incident took place in a market of Parachinar, a town in Kurrum Agency, where people are gathered after their Friday prayer, Shah said.

#2: A clash between Pakistani troops and Taliban on Friday killed five militants and three members of a government sponsored militia in the country’s troubled northwest, security officials said. Fighting erupted after Pakistani troops and local militia launched a joint operation against Taliban in the Spindand area of Khyber tribal district, which borders Afghanistan. “Five militants and three members of the militia have been killed in the clash. Three security persons and four militia members have been wounded,” a security official told AFP. “The number of injured from the Taliban side is unknown,” he said.


DoD: Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada

2 comments:

Cervantes said...

Very sad news about Anthony Shadid, we frequently linked to his work here. He was an excellent reporter and we'll know less about what's going on in the Middle East with him gone.

Dancewater said...

The death of Anthony Shadid made me very sad today. I read everything he wrote. He was a great reporter.