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, March 27, 2013

War News for Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The British MoD is reporting the death of a British ISAF soldier from an insurgent attack in Nad ‘Ali, Helmand province, Afghanistan on Tuesday, March 26th.


Reported security incidents
#1: Afghan and NATO troops killed 23 Taliban fighters in eastern Afghanistan, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday, dpa reported. The joint operation was conducted on Tuesday in Sajawand village of Baraki Bark district in Logar province. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said 12 of the movement's fighters were killed. In an online statement, the Taliban said 28 Afghan civilians were killed by NATO's bombardment of the village.

#2: Three militants were killed and a security official was injured as Afghanistan-based militants attacked a checkpoint along the border in Nawagai tehsil of Bajaur tribal region on Tuesday. An official said the militants entered the area from Afghanistan and fired several rockets and mortars at the checkpost in Matak, 40km from Khar. “Security forces pushed back the militants and at least three attackers were killed and one security personnel was injured during the exchange of fire,” the official said.

#3: Meanwhile, militants fired a rocket at a checkpost of Levies Force in Khar on Monday night. The checkpost was partially damaged, but no casualty was reported, according to officials.

#4: Officials said two security personnel were killed when a bomb detonated by remote control exploded Damadola village of Bajaur. The personnel were on routine patrol in the area when the bomb went off. No-one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

#5: At least two people were reportedly injured following an explosion in the 15th district of capital Kabul on Wednesday, police officials said. Afghan interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi said a foreign national has also been injured following the blast which took place around 9am local time after a remote controlled IED device planted under the vehicle of a private security firm was detonated. He said, “An explosive device was attached under a vehicle and went off near a security check post at the 15th district.”

#6: According to local authorities in north-eastern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, at least 12 people including 2 Afghan police forces and 10 Taliban militants were killed following clashes in Wardoj district. The officials further added at least four Taliban militants were also injured during the clashes. Provincial security chief Gen. Imamuddin Motmaein confirming the report said Taliban militants attacked a security check post at Bashand village on Tuesday night.

6 comments:

Dancewater said...

Iraq – Major exposé on the death squads in Iraq – started, armed, funded, and promoted by the US military in secret. It was the “El Salvador” option in Iraq, which resulted in starting up the sectarian war in Iraq. In depth report: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/06/pentagon-iraqi-torture-centres-link

Dancewater said...

Remember years ago when we discussed the Wolf Brigade, and the Badr Brigade - and their horrible abuse of human rights? The USA was the instigator of these crimes, which we referred to as "the el Salvador option".

Meanwhile, over on right wing blogs, they were cheering on these torture/murder groups, including cheering on putting the Iraqi men on TV to "confess" to their crimes after they have been horrible tortured.

May the men involved with these hideous criminals, and the people who supported them and cheered them on, rot in hell forever.

Dancewater said...

Syria – CIA provides intelligence to Syrian rebels. [And that’s not all they provide! So, are these folks total idiots (by helping out extremists who hate Americans) or total psychopaths (who don’t care who they kill, just as long as the killing continues) or both? March 19]
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/cia-provides-intelligence-syrian-rebels-report-174809080.html

Syria – Leader of the Syrian National Coalition (trying to oust Assad) has stepped down. He said that the west has not been giving enough weapons to the rebels. Also, the ‘elected’ prime minister of the opposition will not be recognized by the FSA, which is the military branch of the SNC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21917630

Syria – Rebels have begun to fight among themselves. http://world.time.com/2013/03/26/in-syria-the-rebels-have-begun-to-fight-among-themselves/

Syria – Obama’s policies in shambles. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/03/25/186877/obamas-syria-policy-in-shambles.html

Syria – US training Syrians in Jordan. [But we are only training ‘moderate’ forces. March 26] http://www.11alive.com/news/article/285225/166/Officials-US-training-Syrians-forces-in-Jordan

Dancewater said...

Libya – Libya’s original freedom fighter leaves Libya, due to death threats from the Libyan militias. He said "I returned to Libya with tears in my eyes. I was so hopeful," he says now. "But our revolution has been hijacked." [No joke. It was hijacked by the US-supported Islamic extremists. Amazingly enough, this guy never thought the country would end of full of militarized groups (of thugs) even though history has shown AGAIN AND AGAIN that violence begets more violence. March 24] http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/23/libya-original-freedom-fighter

Cervantes said...

Yep. You still need to read The Guardian to learn this stuff -- the U.S. corporate media pretty much ignores it.

Dancewater said...

Afghan and international special forces staged a night raid in the country's restive east, with police on Wednesday saying five civilians died in the operation, four of them children.

Link here

The USA - still killing children around the world every day.