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, April 23, 2012

War News for Monday, April 23, 2012

NATO is reporting the deaths of two ISAF soldiers from an IED blast in an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, April 22nd.

Opiates Killed 8 Americans In Afghanistan, Army Records Show

Afghan interpreters claim they will be killed when NZ withdraws

U.S., Afghan officials initial proposal on future ties

Rainy weather lingers in NW Pakistan

Heavy floods kill and injured 12 in Baghlan province

Reported security incidents
#1: Separately, two people were killed in a landmine explosion in RD 109, a bordering area between Sindh and Balochistan. Sources said the two villagers were on their way to Khand Khot when they hit a landmine, planted by unidentified people. They both died in the ensuing explosion.

#2: In another incident of violence in Balochistan, two people from the Amn Force were killed and two other injured in a landmine explosion in Dera Bugti. The force personnel were patrolling Za Mardan village in the Loti gas field area when their vehicle hit a landmine. Two force members were killed and as many injured in the explosion.

#3: In a shoot out between the police and some unknown armed persons two persons were killed, while a policeman was injured on Monday, Geo News reported. Police said that the encounter with the unknown armed persons at Akhtarabad in the outskirt Western By-pass here occurred at a time when the police signaled to a suspected vehicle to stop instead the vehicle riders opened fire on the police and leaving the vehicle attempted to escape. Their firing injured one policeman, while both the armed persons were killed in retaliatory firing.

#4: A huge fire erupted in capital Kabul on Monday afternoon, with thick black smoke arising out of the incident area. According to reports the fire erupted as a result of a fire incident at a fuel pump station in Deh-Mazan area west of capital Kabul. The main reason behind the incident and casualties are still unclear. Officials yet to comment regarding the incident.



Posted by whisker at 3:12 AM

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