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 30, 2013

War News for Friday, August 30, 2013


Reported security incidents
#1: Officials in Afghanistan's northern province of Kunduz say a district governor has been killed in a suicide bombing attack. Dashi Archi district Governor Sheik Sadruddin Sadee died when the bomber detonated his explosives at a mosque on August 30. The local police chief's spokesman told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that the attack killed six other people and injured 12. Reports say the bombing occurred as mourners were attending a funeral ceremony for a tribal elder.

#2: 57 militants were killed in operations launched by the Afghan police, army and the NATO-led coalition forces since Thursday, the country's Interior Ministry said on Friday. "During joint cleanup operations conducted by Afghan police, army and the coalition troops, 57 Taliban insurgents were killed, 10 wounded and four detained over the past 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement. The raids took place in Baghlan, Kunduz Nangarhar, Kapisa, Sari Pul, Jawzjan, Kandahar and Helmand provinces to clear the areas from militants, the statement said.


US/DoD: 1st Lt. Jason Togi

US/DoD: Sgt. 1st Class Ricardo D. Young

Posted by whisker at 4:31 AM

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