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


Thursday, April 26, 2012

War News for Thursday, April 26, 2012

A Marine Two-Star: Why Afghanistan Is Like Vietnam


Reported security incidents
#1:  A provincial official says a group of Taliban fighters have attacked a police post in northeast Afghanistan, killing four officers and abducting 16. Badakhshan province Deputy Gov. Shams ul-Rahman said on Thursday that police reinforcements have been sent to secure the post, which sits on a key highway passing through Fayz Abad district. Ul-Rahman says the Taliban carried out the attack on Wednesday night and that they were helped by militants from other Central Asian countries. Ul-Rahman says that two police officers were also wounded in the hourslong attack.

#2: An Altavista woman received devastating news Wednesday morning about her soldier son in Afghanistan. Donna Hammock got news her son suffered life-threatening injuries from a bombing attack on his unit. That attack killed four soldiers. Chris Walker, 28, has been deployed since November. He was serving his third tour in the Middle East. He suffered injuries to his left eye, his left leg, and both arms. Details on the injuries have been few and far between.

#3: Three civilians were killed and four other women injured Thursday when a mortar hit a house following a clash between Taliban and NATO-led forces in Afghan Wardak province, 35 km west of capital Kabul, the provincial government said. "A military unit of NATO-led forces was on a regular patrol in Dawran Khil area of Chak-i-Wardak district at about 12:00 p.m. local time today but an unknown number of armed anti-government militants attacked the unit triggering a clash lasting for a while, " the provincial government said in a press release. The release said that during the clash a mortar round hit a civilian house in the area leaving three women dead and four others injured.

#4:  Eight Taliban militants were killed during an operation in southern Afghan province of Kandahar, provincial police chief said on Thursday. "Based on intelligence, a special unit of Afghan Border Police raided a Taliban hideout in Hadah area of Spin Boldak district Wednesday night killing eight militants," General Abdul Raziq told Xinhua.

#5: According to local authorities in southern Kandahar province at least 3 NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) service members were wounded in this province. The officials further added the incident took place around 7:30 am local time at Panjwai district of southern Kandahar province after a convoy of the International coalition security forces struck with an improvised explosive device. Panjwai district chief Haji Fazal Mohammad confirming the report said at least 3 NATO troops were injured following the incident. In the meantime Taliban militants group claimed responsibility behind the incident and said at least 5 NATO troops were killed following the explosion.

#6: According to local authorities in southern Helmand province, unknown gunmen on Tuesday night assassinated a local tribal elder along with his son in this province. The officials further added Haji Mohammad Shah Khan, resident of Kochnai Darwishan in Garser district was shot dead by unknown gunmen in his own house on Tuesday night. The gunmen also shot dead an eight year old son of Haji Mohammad Shah Khan, officials said.

Posted by whisker at 3:51 AM

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