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, January 12, 2013

War News for Saturday, January 12, 2013

The Spanish MoD is reporting the death of a Spanish ISAF soldier from an IED blast between the villages of Qala-i-Naw and Darra -i-Bun, in the north of Badghis Province, Afghanistan on Friday, January 11th. Here’s NATO’s release.


French hostage killed in Somalia raid, as military operation continues in Mali

French Soldier Killed in Somalia Commando Raid

Obama announces reduced U.S. role in Afghanistan starting this spring


Reported security incidents
#1: Two drivers were killed and 10 NATO containers were damaged on Friday night when several brazen rockets attacks were carried out on a terminal near Hazara Ganji, on the outskirts of Quetta. According to police, unidentified armed men fired four rockets targeting NATO containers which were en rout to Kandahar from Karachi and were temporary parked at the terminal. "Two drivers, identified as Abid and Waheed Shah, received multiple wounds in the attack and died," a police official said, adding that the assailants also opened indiscriminate fire that lasted for about half and hour.

#2: At least fourteen persons were injured when a blast occurred near Umarzai area of Charsadda while ANP leader Basher Khan’s convoy was on way to the court for appearance in some case Saturday, Geo News reported. According to police, 14 persons including ANP leader and former provincial minister Basher Khan were injured in the remote-controlled blast. The injured also include former Naib Nazim Zafarullah Khan and three policemen who have been shifted to Lady Reading Hopsital, Peshawar. Hospital sources told that all the injured are out of danger and in stable condition.

#3: Five Taliban militants were killed and four others injured in eastern Nuristan province on Saturday, Interior Ministry said. "The clash took place after a group of Taliban rebels attacked policemen in Durna village of Kamdish district this morning and police returned fire killing five rebels on the spot and injured four others," the press release asserted.

#4: According to local authorities in western Badghis province of Afghanistan at least 10 Afghan police officers were killed or injured following Taliban militants attack. Provincial police chief Sharafuddin Sharaf confirming the report said the incident took place after a number of Taliban militants attacked a security check post in Moqor district. Mr. Sharaf further added the clashes continued for almost two hours leaving at least four police officers dead, 2 injured and another office was disappeared. He said a Taliban militant was also killed following the clashes. In a separate incident Taliban militants attacked a security check post in Ab-Kamari district leaving at least 3 Afghan police officers injured.


DoD: Sgt. Aaron X. Wittman

SP/MoD: El sargento David Fernández Ureña

Posted by whisker at 4:08 AM

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