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


Thursday, July 11, 2013

War News for Thursday, July 11, 2013


Karachi: Bomb kills President Zardari's security chief, 2 others

Drones in Niger Reflect New U.S. Tack on Terrorism

Lawmakers say administration’s lack of candor on surveillance weakens oversight

UK to withdraw 5200 troops from Afghanistan by end of 2013

US wastes $34M on base in Afghanistan it will never use


Reported security incidents

#1: Afghan officials say at least five people, including two police officers, have been killed by two bombs in the southern province of Helmand. Ummar Zawaq, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said three civilians were killed when their car struck a roadside bomb. Zawaq said two police officers who had rushed to the scene to help the victims died when a second bomb went off.
#2: According to another report, an intelligence official was wounded and his guard killed in a roadside bombing in Kajran district of central Bamyan province.

#3: Two people were killed and three others injured in a powerful bomb blast near Kacha Pakha area of Kohat, which is adjacent to Pakistan’s restive tribal areas along the Afghan border, Local News Channel reported. According to initial details, the bomb planted in a motorcycle exploded on Hangu road, killing at least two people and injuring several others.


SL/DM: čatár Daniel Kavuliak

Posted by whisker at 4:53 AM

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