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


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

War News for Wednesday, February 13, 2013


Canadian diplomat warns of 'another Afghanistan' in Mali

Obama announces 34,000 troops to leave Afghanistan

Taliban still handling prosecutions in parts of Afghanistan


Reported security incidents
#1: A NATO airstrike has reportedly killed at least 10 civilians, including five children, in eastern Afghanistan. The airstrike took place in the Shigal district of the Kunar Province, an area with a heavy Taliban presence. Afghan officials say the 10 dead civilians were from two local families. District governor Abdul Zahir said three Taliban commanders, including a notorious Al Qaeda-linked militant leader called Shahpoor, were also killed in the raid.

#2: Three Pakistani traders were killed when their vehicle struck a roadside landmine here on Wednesday. According to Afghan officials, three Pakistani traders were heading towards Trade Centre when their car struck a landmine in Spain Boldak district near Pak-Afghan border.

#3: According to local authorities in western Farah province of Afghanistan, at least seven Afghan civilians were killed by Iranian border protection security forces. A local security official speaking on the condition of anonymity said the deceased civilians were looking to enter Iran illegally to find a job and were shot dead on Afghanistan-Iran border. The source further added that the incident took place in Lash Joyand district on Friday and the dead bodies of the civilians were taken to this province on Tuesday.

Posted by whisker at 4:36 AM

1 comments:

Dancewater said...

The USA still bombing children.

Disgusting.

Shameful.

Immoral.

Evil.

Spawn of the devil.

February 14, 2013 at 7:46 PM

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