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


Tuesday, January 1, 2013

War News for Tuesday, January 01, 2013


Afghan soldiers killed fighting Taliban rises for fifth year


Reported security incidents
#1: One Afghan constable was killed and five others sustained injuries as a roadside bomb struck a police van in Farah province with Farah city as its capital 695 km west of Kabul on Monday night, a local official said Tuesday. “The tragic incident occurred Monday evening in Khak-e-Safid district, leaving a police constable dead and five others injured, ” spokesman for provincial administration Abdul Rahman Ghawandoi told Xinhua.

#2: Twelve Taliban fighters have been killed in various parts of the country, the Ministry of Interior said Monday. The joint forces conducted operations in Kunar, Baghlan, Kandahar, Wardak, Logar and Ghazni provinces over the past 24 hours, killing 10 Taliban fighters, injuring one and arresting nine more, an interior ministry press release available with the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) stated. The press release said two Taliban fighters were killed when an IED they were trying to plant went off prematurely in Grishk district.

#3: Afghan police during series of operations across the country have killed two Taliban militants and captured 26 others over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here Tuesday. "These operations have been conducted in Nangarhar, Kapisa, Kunduz, Maidan, Wardak, Logar, Ghazni and Helmand provinces during which two Taliban rebels were killed and 26 others detained," the statement added. There were casualties on police forces, it said. Taliban militants have yet to comment on it.

#4: According to local authorities in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan, at least 4 Afghan civilians were killed or injured following missile attack from Pakistan. The officials further added at least 12 missiles were fired in Sarkano district, leaving an Afghan woman dead and 3 children injured. A commander for the Afghan border protection forces Wali Khan said the missiles were fired on Monady by Pakistani military from the Momand Agency area.

#5: According to local authorities in western Herat province of Afghanistan, two Afghan national army officers opened fire on Spanish troops convoy in Karkh district on Monday evening. A local security official speaking on the condition of anonymity said, the two Afghan army officers belong to the 3rd brigade of the Afghan national army in Herat province. He said Spanish troops did not suffer any casualties however the two Afghan officers managed to flee the area and the two will possibly have links with the Taliban group. In the meantime eye witnesses in the area said at least three Spanish troops were injured following the attack who were taken to Herat military hospital.


DoD:  Pfc. Markie T. Sims

2 comments:

Dancewater said...

Happy New Year!

The insane war/wars/drone bombings continue....

And in 2012, more US troops committed suicide than died in combat. Same is true for the IDF.

And "collateral damage", like we saw at Sandy Hook, will continue.

Happy Fucking New Year!

Anonymous said...

Collateral damage?