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


Saturday, April 7, 2012

War News for Saturday, April 07, 2012

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an insurgent attack in an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, April 6th.


Taliban claim holding five US, Nato officers, over 100 soldiers

Nato supplies can be restored if drone strikes end: Nawaz

Young vets' joblessness hits 10.3 percent

Pakistani troops buried by avalanche on Siachen Glacier in Kashmir - More than 100 Pakistani troops have been buried by an avalanche that struck an army base on a Himalayan glacier along the country's border with India.


Reported security incidents
#1: Four Afghan policemen were killed on Friday as the Taliban have stepped up their attacks against government and NATO troops to undermine the U.S.-led coalition's effort to build up Afghan forces so they can take the lead in the next few years. The policemen died in three incidents in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, according to police officials. One was killed when the Taliban attacked in Marjah district. A second died when a roadside bomb he was searching for exploded in Washer district. Two others were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside mine in Gereskh district.

Afghan Defense Ministry officials following a statement announced, at least 3 Afghan National Army soldiers were injured in southern Helmand province. The source further added, the Afghan army service members were injured while conducting their duties at Marjah and Delaram district of southern Helmand province.

#2: A NATO drone crashed Friday in northern Afghanistan, the NATO-led forces said in a press release. "An International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle crashed in northern Afghanistan today," the NATO-led ISAF said in the release. However, a Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid in talks with local media claimed that the insurgent fighters shot down a NATO helicopter in northern Baghlan province.

#3: Afghan police in conjunction with national army and the NATO-led forces have eliminated 10 Taliban militants and captured over a dozen other over the past 24 hours, a press release of the Interior Ministry said on Saturday. "During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police backed by national army and the Coalition Forces launched eight joint operations in Nangarhar, Badakhshan, Kandahar, Helmand and Paktiya provinces during which 10 armed insurgents have been killed, one wounded and 14 others were arrested," the press release added. However, it did not say if there were any casualties to the security personnel. Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have yet to make comment.

#4: According to local authorities in north-eastern Badakhshan province, a prominent Taliban leader, Qari Shamsuddin was killed following a NATO air raid in this province. Local security officials in Badakhshan province said, the death of the Qari Shamsuddin was an enormous achievement and said Afghan security forces will be able to easily clean up insurgents from the Wardoj district. Gen. Tamkin further added, Qari Shamsuddin was killed on Friday morning around 11:00 am local time following a NATO air raid. Wardoj district is one of the volatile regions in north-eastern Badakhshan province where Taliban militants have increased to their activities in this province during the recent months.


DoD: Cpl. Alex Martinez

DoD: Spc. Jeffrey L. White, Jr.

Posted by whisker at 4:07 AM

1 comments:

Lisa Small said...

Thank you for posting the information about Specialist Jeffrey White.

My family member stationed nearby at FOB Salerno was unable to get that much information.

He will be remembered.

April 11, 2012 at 5:10 PM

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