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, June 26, 2013

War News for Tuesday, June 26, 2013


Taliban’s Divided Tactics Raise Doubts Over Talks


Reported security incidents:
#1: At least one security man was killed and three others were injured in a remote-controlled blast in the Awaran district of Balochistan on Wednesday. Security officials told that a Frontier Corps (FC) convoy was on routine patrol when it was targeted with a roadside bomb planted by militants in the Mashkay area of Awaran district.

#2: Security officials have confirmed that four police officers were injured in a roadside bomb blast in eastern Paktia province early Wednesday. The incident took place in Gardez, capital of the province, when the police vehicle fell prey to a roadside bomb, said Rohullah Samoon, provincial governor spokesman.


US/DoD: Sgt. Corey E. Garver

Posted by whisker at 4:27 AM

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