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


Wednesday, October 31, 2012

War News for Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The British MoD is reporting the deaths of two British soldiers from small arms fire at a checkpoint in the Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan on Tuesday, October 30th. News reports that an ANP shot and killed the soldiers. Here’s the ISAF statement.


Taliban Hits Region Seen as ‘Safest’ for Afghans


Reported security incidents
#1: Two Taliban militants were killed as their explosive device went off prematurely in Baghlan province 160 km north of capital Kabul on Wednesday, provincial police chief Assadullah Shirzad said. “Three Taliban militants were busy in planting mine on a road in Bagh-e-Shamal village outside provincial capital Pul-e-Khumri early this morning but the device exploded prematurely killing two rebels on the spot and injuring another,” Shirzad told Xinhua.

#2: A large number of regular Army troops have been deployed for launched an operation in Khyber Agency, reported BBC on Tuesday. The move came following a clash between security forces and militants. According to eyewitnesses, security forces have cordoned off several areas in Barqamber Khel and Sepah, while arresting many suspects on Tuesday morning. Locals say that all major roads leading to Bara were closed creating difficulties for them. Locals say that regular military troops are being deployed in Bara sub-division. They say that scores of military personnel are entering Bara sub-division with tanks.

#3: Eight Afghan civilians, including seven women, were killed and two others wounded Wednesday morning in a roadside bombing in southern Helmand province, the Interior Ministry said. "A civilian car touched off a roadside bomb planted by the Taliban terrorists in Dizro area of Musa Qala district at about 9 a.m. local time sparking a powerful blast leaving eight civilians dead on the spot," the ministry said in a statement.

Posted by whisker at 4:00 AM

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