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, May 3, 2012

War News for Thursday, May 03, 2012

The DoD is reporting what appears to be a new death previously unreported by the military. Capt. Bruce K. Clark died from unreported causes in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan on Tuesday, May 1st.


Afghanistan security deal Obama signed has holes

Taliban dismiss US-Afghan pact as ‘illegitimate’

No permanent bases, no offensives launched from Afghanistan: Crocker

US-Afghan pact 'does not rule out drone strikes'

Fallout of Bin Laden Raid: Aid Groups in Pakistan Are Suspect


Reported security incidents
#1: Two bomb attacks killed at least five people in Pakistan's lawless tribal badlands on the Afghan border Thursday, officials said. The first attack killed two pro-government tribal elders in Chamarkand village, 45 km (28 miles) northwest of Khar, the main town of in Bajaur district at around 8.30am (0330 GMT), local government official Tariq Khan told AFP. The second bomb exploded 10 min. later after security forces arrived and began a search operation to find the culprits, Khan said. “Two paramilitary soldiers and one tribal policeman were killed in the second bomb blast,” he said. Another government official, Adalat Khan, confirmed the bombings and casualties.

#2: Afghan forces have killed 20 Taliban militants in Farah province in western Afghanistan over the past three days, police said Thursday. "Afghan security forces including police and army launched a major offensive against Taliban militants in Khak-e-Safid district on Tuesday and so far 20 insurgents have been killed," police chief of the province Mohammad Ghous Malyar told Xinhua. Five security personnel including two police and three soldiers have been wounded, he added.

#3: At least 6 militants were killed following joint military operations by Afghan and coalition security forces in eastern regions of the country during the past 24 hours, ISAF announced. According to a press release issued by International Security Assistance Force at least 3 insurgents were killed by Afghan national police forces in Pul-E Alam district after receiving small arms fire. The source further added a coalition airstrike killed two insurgents in Ghaziabad district of eastern Kunar province after Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition ground forces received small arms fire. In a separate operation Afghan National Army soldiers killed one insurgent in response to small arms fire in Chak district at Maidan Wardak province.


DoD: Sgt. Nicholas M. Dickhut

DoD: Capt. Bruce K. Clark

Posted by whisker at 3:39 AM

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