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


Saturday, December 22, 2012

War News for Saturday, December 22, 2012


Reported security incidents
#1: A driver and his helper were injured when unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on an Afghanistan-bound trailer in Wazirdhand area in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency on Friday, tribal sources said. The sources said the trailer (P-8279) was supplying goods to the Nato forces in Afghanistan when it came under attack. The driver Rustam Shah and his helper, whose identity could not be confirmed, were wounded in the attack.

#2: A relatively heavy explosion rocked eastern Ghanzi province of Afghanistan early Saturday morning. The incident took place in eastern Ghazni city after explosives packed in a cycle went off in old market area. Provincial governor spokesman Fazal Sabawon confirming the report said the main target of the explosion was an Afghan intelligence official. He confirmed at least two Afgan civilians along with an Afghan intelligence officer were injured following the blast.

Posted by whisker at 3:15 AM

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