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


Sunday, August 4, 2013

News of the Day for Sunday, August 4, 2013

Following the suicide attack on the Indian consulate yesterday in Jalalabad, a bomb attack on a convoy carrying state prosecutor Abdul Qayum injures 16 people, including Qayum, 3 of his bodyguards, and 12 bystanders.

The National Directorate of Security says it arrested 7 members of the Haqanni network in Kabul, who were planning suicide attacks on government offices and a hotel. (As you may recall always seemed to be the case when we were aggregating such arrests in Iraq, the prisoners confessed immediately and revealed all their plans. I've always found that curious . . .  C)

A would-be suicide bomber in an Afghan police uniform is shot by police in Tarinkowt, Uruzgan before he can carry out his plan, which was apparently to attack police collecting their pay.

President Karzai is in Iran for the inauguration of new president Hassan Rouhani.

Heavy floods have killed dozens of people in eastern parts of Afghanistan. Hundreds of houses, bazaars and businesses are flooded out. Rains are forecast to continue.

There were once 20,000 U.S. Marines in Helmand. Now there ar 8,000. NPR reports on the departure of Regimental Combat Team 7.


Posted by Cervantes at 4:59 AM

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