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, November 9, 2012

War News for Friday, November 09, 2012

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from a non-combat related injuries in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Friday, November 9th.


Sweden plans phaseout from Afghanistan


Reported security incidents
#1: At least one security personnel was killed and another was injured when militants attacked a security check post in South Waziristan early Friday, security sources confirmed. The attack took place at Toi Khula fort area in the Wana agency headquarters at around 4am (PST) in the morning. The security forces, in the counter attack, killed at least six militants and wounded 13 of them, the security sources claimed.

#2: An IED ripped through an ANA vehicle in Todah Cheena area of Badpakh district at approximately 8:00 a.m. (local time), leaving five troops dead and one more injured, Sarhadi Zawak, spokesman for Laghman governor told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). He said the ANA logistic vehicle was on way from Badpakh district after supplying goods to the army.

#3: Meanwhile, a defence ministry press release stated three ANA soldiers were killed and seven more injured in IED strikes and attacks of the armed opponents in Farah, Khost, Helmand and Wardak provinces over the past 24 hours.

#5: Afghan officials say four police officers have been shot dead in southern Helmand province in an insider attack by their colleagues. Mohammad Toryali, police chief of Grish district, says the shooting occurred at a police outpost during a shift change. The officers on duty were killed by four of their colleagues who had arrived to replace them, Toryali said Friday. The killers fled.

#6: Taliban attacked Afghan security escorts of foreign forces in Sabari district of Khost province yesterday, killing two security policemen, an official said Thursday. Besides the death of two guards, a vehicle was also destroyed after the attack in Zambar area, Zar Mueed Mukhlis, governor of Sabari district, told AIP. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, however, said their fighters attacked troops of Quick Reaction Force in Sabari district and caused them casualties but they had no precise details.

Posted by whisker at 4:32 AM

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