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, January 25, 2013

War News for Friday, January 25, 2013


Three killed during clashes with Iraqi army in Falluja.


Reported security incidents
#1: A suicide car bomb blasted through two homes in Afghanistan Friday morning killing five people and wounding 15 others, authorities said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in Kapisa province, saying the terror organization was trying to target U.S. troops, said Mehrabuddin Safi, the governor of the eastern province. No troops were killed or wounded, only civilians, Safi said.

#2: Three Georgian soldiers wounded in Afghanistan. As the Ministry of Defense of Georgia told Trend, Corporal Erekle Kharshiladze and Sergeant Iago Kakulia were injured in Taliban attack on Georgian patrol. The two soldiers were slightly injured and their condition is stable. Both were taken to hospital in Landstuhl in Germany. Private Guram Chomakhidze blown up on a mine while on patrol. He was seriously injured and taken to Bastion hospital. His condition is stable at this time.

#3: Five militants were killed and many others injured in a clash between the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Ansarul Islam (AI) militant groups Friday in Khyber tribal region’s Tirah Valley. Officials said that TTP and AI militants clashed in Maidan village of Tirah Valley in Khyber tribal region leaving five militants dead and several others injured. The sources said that the death toll was likely to increase as the skirmish had not ended yet.

#4: A relatively heavy explosion rocked northern Balkh province of Afghanistan on Thursday evening. The incident took place in central Mazar-e-Sharif city at Darwaza-e-Jamhuri area near the city shrine, provincial security commandment and central bank. Provincial security chief spokesman Sher Jan Durani said the explosive device was planted near a police ring of steel by the militants and went off while an Afghan police officer got closer to the stall. Mr. Durani further added that the police officer became suspicious of the explosive device and the blast took place after the device was thrown away by the officer. He said the police officer was injured following the blast and has been taken to the hospital for treatment.

Posted by whisker at 4:38 AM

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