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, May 18, 2012

War News for Friday, May 18, 2012



Cataloging Wounds of War to Help Heal Them

Two NATO troops killed in Afghan attack


Reported security incidents
#1: A businessman was killed and another injured when a remote-controlled bomb exploded in their spare parts shop near Scheme Chowk on the outskirts of Peshawar.The blast was so loud that it damaged windowpanes of vehicles parked nearby. An official of the Badbher police station said the explosion injured two and one of them died of critical injuries at the Lady Reading Hospital.  A bomb disposal unit official told Dawn that improvised explosive device packed in a ghee canister was placed inside a cupboard of the shop. He said IED contained steel nails and other metallic pieces but police didn’t find evidence for use of any remote-controlled device in the blast.

#2: According local authorities in central Maidan Wardak province at least 8 militants were killed along with their commander following NATO airstrike at Syedabad district while they were planting roadside improvised explosive device. The officials further added the militants were killed in two separate operations at Kaj Kala and Aftab Sia areas. Syedabad district chief Dr. Fazal Karim Muslim said at least 5 militants along with their commander recognized as Daud were planting roadside bombs at Kaj Kala area and were killed following a NATO air raid around 2:00 am local time. Mr. Muslim further added, in a separate operation at least 3 militants were killed at Kabul-Kandahar highway following an air raid. He also said the eight militants who were killed following the operations were working for Mullah Farid Qeyam and were involved in planting roadside bombs and other insurgency activities.

#3: Afghan defense ministry following a statement on Thursday announced at least 5 Afghan national army soldiers were killed or injured in three separate incidents. The statement further added an Afghan national army soldier was killed following armed attacked by militants at Wardaj district of north-eastern Badakhshan province.

In a separate incident two Afghan national army soldiers were injured following militants attack at Mano district in eastern Kunar province and another Afghan soldier was injured in southern Helmand province, the statement added. Afghan defense ministry officials following the statement also said Afghan national army soldiers killed a roadside bomb planter in eastern Khost province.


Posted by whisker at 4:04 AM

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