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


Tuesday, May 22, 2012

War News for Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The DoD is reporting a new death previously unreported by the military. Spc. Samuel T. Watts died at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. on Saturday, May 19th. He was wounded in an IED blast in Zharay, Kandaher province, Afghanistan on Wednesday, April 25th.


NATO soldier killed in Afghanistan

New Zealand troops to leave Afghanistan early

French leader determined to withdraw troops from Afghanistan

Nato plans Afghan pullout but Pakistan problem remains

Suicide bomber kills nearly 100 in Yemen


Reported security incidents

#1: Afghan security forces on Monday intruded into Pakistani territory near Qila Saifullah and opened fire on a passenger bus, killing one Pakistani national and injuring four others. According to sources, a passenger bus was on its way near Pak-Afghan border in Dumar Cross area of Qila Saifullah when Afghan security forces deployed along the border crossed into Pakistan and opened fire on the bus. Five Pakistani nationals onboard received bullet wounds. The injured were shifted to Quetta, where one of them was pronounced dead on arrival.

#2: At least four terrorists were killed and several others were injured in clashes with security forces on Monday. One volunteer of a peace committee was also killed in the fire exchange. According to details, security forces along with volunteers of the peace committee, conducted search operation against terrorists in Tirah Valley of the Khyber Agency. On being attacked, the terrorists resisted and fired back at the troops, killing a volunteer of the peace committee, which led to a heavy exchange of fire. Four terrorists were killed as a result, while several others were injured.

#3: Afghan police during series of operations against anti-government militants have killed three armed insurgents and captured eight others over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Tuesday. "During the operations conducted in Faryab, Kandahar, Helmand and Uruzgan provinces over the past 24 hours, three armed rebels have been killed, one injured and eight others made captive," the statement stated.

#4: At least 7 Afghan national army soldiers were killed and 4 others were injured following militants attack in eastern and south-eastern regions of the country. Afghan defense ministry following a statement on Tuesday announced 11 Afghan national army soldiers were killed or injured following militants attack and roadside bomb explosions at Paktia, Paktika, Maidan Wardak and Zabul provincesof Afghanistan.


DoD: Capt. Jesse A. Ozbat

DoD:  2nd Lt. Tobias C. Alexander

DoD: Spc. Samuel T. Watts

1 comments:

Cervantes said...

Now this could get interesting:

" Bush and Blair's pre-Iraq conversation must be disclosed, tribunal rules.

Foreign Office loses appeal against release of extracts from phone call that took place a few days before invasion."

The British govt. has 30 days to comply or appeal. We shall see.