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


Friday, August 9, 2013

War News for Friday, August 09, 2013


Most of Lahore US consulate staff pulled out over terror threat


Reported security incidents
#1: update Nearly half the top police commanders in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province were killed Thursday when insurgents shot and killed a police inspector, then bombed his funeral hours later, where most of the province’s police commanders had gathered. At least 30 people were reported dead and 40 wounded.


Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/08/08/4651303/pakistani-police-commanders-killed.html#storylink=cpy

#2: Two persons were killed and another injured when a car collided with a landmine in Shakh area of Upper Kurram here on Friday, sources said. According to details, an explosion occurs when a car collided with a land mine in Shakh area.

 #3: Gunmen killed nine people and wounded 10 others when they opened fire outside a mosque on Friday morning in the outskirts here, police said. Brohi said a former provincial minister with the Pakistan Peoples Party, which headed the last national coalition government, Ali Madad Jatak, was also in the mosque and may been the target. "But we are not sure at the moment and are investigating, " he said, adding that Jatak escaped unhurt although bullets hit his car.

#4: Afghan defense ministry officials on Friday said around 200 militants mostly foreigners were killed during the operations in eastern Logar province of Afghanistan. Defense ministry spokesman, Gen. Zahir Azimi said that the main operations in Azra district have ended, and Afghan national army is currently conducting search operation.

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