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 24, 2012

War News for Friday, February 24, 2012

Afghan worker recalls how US soldiers burned Korans

Germans ditch Afghan base amid Koran burning

20 killed in Afghans’ protests against Qu’ran desecration

Gingrich denounces Obama's apology to Afghan president Karzai .unbelievable – whisker

Anti-US protests erupt in Afghanistan - few details yet

7 Marines killed in collision of copters

2 dozen military aircraft have crashed since 2008

Afghan conflict forced 500,000 to flee homes, Amnesty says


Reported security incidents
#1: Suicide bombers armed with assault rifles and grenades attacked a police station in the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar early Friday, killing three officers in an assault authorities said was likely in revenge for offensives against nearby strongholds. City police chief Imtiaz Altaf said three militants entered the compound after attacking the main gate, then blew themselves up when police returned fire, he said. "They wanted to occupy this police station, but they failed," he told reporters

#2: In a separate incident, two men planting a homemade bomb at the side of a road were wounded when it exploded, police officials said.

#3: At least eight suspected Taliban militants were killed Friday in a clash between militants and security forces in eastern Afghan province of Laghman, an army commander said. "The clash broke out in wee hours Friday morning when Afghan army personnel came in contact with suspected Taliban militants in Surkhakan area of Qarghayi district in Laghman province but during the shootout eight militants were killed," an army commander with Sayllab Corps, Colonel Shah Alam, told Xinhua.

#4: In a separate development, a civilian was killed and six other civilians injured when a bicycle bomb went off in neighbouring Khost province Friday morning, a provincial police sources said. "A bomb planted in bicycle was detonated through a remote control in Faiz Mohammad neighbourhood of provincial capital Khost city leaving one civilians dead and injuring six others including a women," deputy provincial police chief Mohammad Yaqub told Xinhua.

#5: According to local authorities in eastern Khost province, at least 7 people were killed and injured following a roadside Improvised Explosive Device explosion in this province. The officials further added, the incident took place at Spin Jomat area at eastern Khost city. According to eyewitnesses at least 1 civilian was killed and 6 others were injured following the explosion.

#6: A Norwegian soldier sustained injuries during a demonstration against Norway’s Meymaneh military complex, northern Afghanistan. Major Ivar Moen, on-duty Norway Joint HQ press spokesperson, tells The Foreigner, “he was injured in the leg after a hand grenade was thrown over the wall. We have no information on his condition as yet, but he is being treated at the Norwegian hospital inside the camp.”

Posted by whisker at 3:29 AM

3 comments:

Dancewater said...

Al Qaeda claims deadly Iraq attackd

Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the wave of deadly attacks that have killed dozens across Iraq.

EPA © Enlarge photo

Iraq's al-Qaeda branch has claimed responsibility for the latest wave of bombings and other attacks that killed dozens in Baghdad and across the country, raising concerns over the government's ability to provide security after the US troop pullout.

The Islamic State of Iraq said in an internet message late Thursday that it targeted security forces and government officials in "revenge for the elimination and torture campaigns that Sunni men and women face in the prisons of Baghdad and other cities."

Iraq's Shi'ite-led government has executed at least 68 prisoners so far this year, a rate that has alarmed human rights groups. Additionally, last autumn Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shi'ite, ordered detentions of hundreds of former Saddam Hussein loyalists, most of whom were believed to be Sunni.

February 24, 2012 at 11:29 PM
Dancewater said...

from above article:

Thursday's attacks killed a total of 55 people and wounded 225, increasing fears of a new surge in sectarian violence two months after the American military pulled out.

February 24, 2012 at 11:30 PM
Dancewater said...

Committee to reveal names of Iraqi officials working for the CIA

That could be interesting.

February 24, 2012 at 11:32 PM

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