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, February 19, 2013

War News for Tuesday, February 19, 2013


Killings of Afghan government workers soar: UN 


Reported security incidents
#1: Gunmen in a restive tribal region on Monday attacked a convoy of vehicles carrying military equipment bound for NATO operations in Afghanistan, killing two people, officials said. The convoy of some 25 vehicles came under attack after it got stuck in a traffic jam in Landi Kotal town in the Khyber tribal region. "At least three unidentified gunmen opened fire on the convoy, killing a driver and his helper and damaging two vehicles," senior local administration official Shakil Burki told AFP. He said the gunmen fled after the attack, adding that one person in the convoy was also injured.

#2: Units of Afghan police have killed more than two dozen Taliban militants during series of operations across the country over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Tuesday. “Afghan police backed by the national army have carried out 19 cleanup operations in different provinces including Helmadn, Logar, Kunduz and Uruzgan provinces during which 25 Taliban rebels have been killed, seven injured and 19 others made captive,” the statement added. It did not say if there were any casualties on police.

#3: According to local authorities in Daikundi province of Afghanistan heavy clashes took place between Afghan security forces and militants on Monday morning in Kajran district. The officials further added the clashes started early Monday morning and is still continuing. Provincial security chief Juma Guldi Yardam confirming the report said fight between Afghan security forces and militants started around 6:30 am and militants were still resisting Afghan security forces until evening today. He said the incident took place after several militants equipped with heavy weapons attacked security check posts in Kajran district from Baghran area of Helmand province.

Posted by whisker at 4:19 AM

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