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, June 18, 2013

War News for Tuesday, June 18, 2013


Afghan forces take over security from Nato

Afghan forces formally take over security of country. Now what?

Afghan Forces Struggle as U.S. Weans Them Off Support

NATO to stop combat operations in Afghanistan: chief

Canadian soldiers leave for final mission in Afghanistan

Innocent civilians killed in drone attacks: Masood Khan

US will buy Russian helicopters for Afghan military: Pentagon


Reported security incidents
#1: Three civilians died in a blast in western Kabul Tuesday ahead of the NATO transfer of responsibility for security to Afghan forces, officials said. Gen. Mohammad Daud Amin, Kabul's deputy police chief, said intended target Mohammad Mohaqiq, a lawmaker and former cabinet member from the minority Hazara community, survived the attack, but at least four bodyguards were among the nearly two dozen people wounded, the Los Angeles Times reported.

#2: Afghan Taliban say that they have shot down a helicopter of ISAF forces in western Afghanistan, but officials say that the helicopter made an emergency landing, reports said Tuesday. The Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousaf Ahmadi, said that the Taliban shot down the foreign forces’ helicopter during a clash in the Garani area in Balabolok District of Farah Province late Monday, the Afghan Islamic Press [AIP] reported.

#3: Terrorists attacked two check posts in North Waziristan and killed two security men early Tuesday morning, Geo News reported. According to sources, two security check posts came under attack by the terrorists early Tuesday morning in North Waziristan where two security men were killed. The roads leading to the attacked checkpoints were closed for all sorts of traffic soon after the incident. On the other hand, seven terrorists were killed when two terror groups clashed with each other near Kohat while two others were injured. The area is still gripped with tension.


US DoD: Lance Cpl. Jared W. Brown

Posted by whisker at 4:37 AM

1 comments:

The World Around Me said...

It is such a shame that the world is turning a blind eye to these atrocities.

June 18, 2013 at 2:19 PM

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