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, April 9, 2013

War News for Tuesday, April 09, 2013

NATO is reporting the deaths of two ISAF soldiers from a helicopter crash in an undisclosed location in somewhere in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, April 9th. News reports that the chopper crashed in Nangarhar province.


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Reported security incidents
#1: NATO says one of its aircraft has crashed in eastern Afghanistan. A local Afghan official says it was a helicopter that came down because of technical problems. The U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force says one of its aircraft crashed on Tuesday in eastern Afghanistan but could not provide details due to recovery operations.

According to local authorities in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, a NATO helicopter crashed in Pechigram district on Tuesday morning. A border police commander for the 8th Battalion, Nasim Khan confirming the report said the helicopter crashed in Gera Khel area at Pechigram distrrict.

#2: According to reports, a group of Taliban militants attacked a security check post used by Afghan security forces in central Paron district of eastern Nuristan province. A local security official speaking on the condition of anonymity said the incident took place around 12:00 am local time on Tuesday and continued until dawn time. At least 2 Afghan police officers have reportedly been killed following the clashes.

 
#3: At least 100 militants have been killed in a military operation in Pakistan’s federally-administered tribal areas, a senior Army official told Newsweek late Monday. “The Army seized control of strategic posts from the militants and ground troops have established their positions,” said the official, who wished not to be named. He said 13 Pakistani troops have been killed and another 13 injured fighting the joint forces of the Lashkar-e-Islam militia and the Pakistani Taliban in Tirah valley. The high-pitch battle in Khyber agency’s Tirah valley started Friday.

Posted by whisker at 4:21 AM

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