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, March 8, 2013

War News for Friday, March 08, 2013


Reported security incidents
#1: Pakistani security forces’ operation in parts of Upper Orakzai Agency is continued as eight more militants were killed in northwestern tribal belt. The sources said that the forces conducted operation in Aotmela and Mandermela area of agency and destroyed six hideouts of the militants. “Eight militants were killed in the operation while dozens other received injures,” they added.

At least 11 militants were killed in ongoing military operations in different area of Upper Orakzai Agency and Khyber Agency here on Friday. According to security sources, security forces backed by jet helicopters bombarded at hideouts of militants in Tirah Valley, killing three militants while several hideouts were destroyed in the shelling. In another operation, ,military jet fighter fired shells at positions of militants in Oatmila and Nandarmila areas of Upper Orakzai, killing eight militants and destroying three hideouts.

#2: According to reports several armed militants attacked a US military base in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on Friday. The incident took place in Jalalabad city and unconfirmed reports suggest that the armed men are Afghan national army and police officrs. The assailant armed men are also equipped with Humvee armoured vehicles and modern military equipments and at least one US soldier has reportedly been killed following the clashes.

Posted by whisker at 4:23 AM

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