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 23, 2013

War News for Friday, August 23, 2013


Africa and Pakistan Face Polio Outbreaks, in Blow to Global Fight


Reported security incidents
#1: A remote controlled blast occurred at Kohat Road in Peshawar when the convoy of security forces was passing through the Bazid Khel area Friday, Local tv reported. According to police, the security personnel were on their way when a bomb fixed in the motorcycle went off near the convoy at Kohat Road, causing a huge blast. As a result, one of the vehicles was partially damaged due to the impact, however, no casualty or injury was reported.

#2: A Pakistan Army soldier and a civilian were killed and over a dozen others, mostly army troops, were wounded in a bomb blast targeting a military truck in Karachi late Thursday. The blast took place around 10:00pm at Korangi No. 5 outside the Rangers Headquarters Wing 84 when a truck carrying Pakistan Army troops cruised past, police said. Two persons were killed and 18 others, including 11 army troops, were injured.

#3: At least 15 Taliban militants were killed and dozens others were injured following joint military opertions by AFghan national army and Afghan Local Police (ALP) forces in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan. According to local government officials, the operations were launched by Afghan army and Afghan Local Police (ALP) to clear the ara from militants activities. A spokesman for the provincial security department, Shamim Ahmad Noorzai said the operations were launched in Nad-e-Ali, Nawa and Marjah districts. Mr. Noori further added that Taliban militants suffered heavy casualties during the operations, but Afghan security forces did not suffer any casualties.

Posted by whisker at 4:26 AM

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)