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, September 20, 2012

War News for Thursday, September 20, 2012


China donates 100 ambulances to Afghanistan


Reported security incidents
#1: A powerful car bomb apparently targeting a vehicle of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) near Scheme Chowk on Kohat Road killed 10 people and wounded 34 others.

#2: The units of Afghan national police backed by the army and NATO-led Coalition forces have killed 19 armed Taliban militants and captured 10 others over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here Thursday. "Afghan National Police backed by the army and Coalition Forces launched three joint clearance operations in Helmand and Kunduz provinces over the past 24 hours during which 19 armed Taliban were Killed, 22 wounded and 10 others arrested by Police," the statement asserted. However, the statement did not say if there were any casualties on the security forces.

#3: At least three people were killed and six other injured in a blast targeting a police vehicle in Kandahar, a main city in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday night, a provincial government spokesman said.

A deadly explosion rocked southern Kandahar province on Wednesday, killing at least 3 people and injuring five others. Provincial governor spokesman Jawed Faisal confirming the report said the incident took place while a vehicle of the Afghan police forces was crossing the area. Mr. Faisal further added, at least 2 Afghan police officers and an Afghan civilian were killed and five other police officers were injured.

#4: In the meantime unknown gunmen on Wednesday afternoon shot dead two Afghan national police officers and an Afghan civilian in Lashkargah city of southern Helmand province. Helmand provincial governor spokesman Daud Ahmadi said the incident took place around 8:30 pm local time in the central city of Lashkargah.


DoD: Sgt. Sapuro B. Nena

DoD: Spc. Joshua N. Nelson

DoD: Pfc. Genaro Bedoy

DoD: Pfc. Jon R. Townsend

Posted by whisker at 4:22 AM

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