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


Monday, August 19, 2013

War News for Monday, August 19, 2013


Reported security incidents
#1: Three persons including two policemen and a passerby were killed when unknown gunmen opened fire in Swabi area, Geo News reported Monday. According to sources, police personnel signaled a suspicious car to stop at a checkpoint in Kala Pul area of Swabi. Instead of stopping the car at the check post, the culprits opened fire on the police team that killed two cops and a passerby on the spot. Two policemen were also injured in the incident.

#2: Seventy-two militants and 11 policemen have been killed in a clash in western Afghan province of Farah, said a police source Monday.

Posted by whisker at 4:51 AM

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