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


Thursday, August 8, 2013

War News for Thursday, August 08, 2013

The US/DoD is reporting the death of Spc. Nickolas S. Welch who died at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on Tuesday, July 6th. He was wounded from a roadside bombing in Soltan Kheyl, Wardak Province, Afghanistan on Tuesday, July 23rd.


Budget cuts spell end of fire-ravaged nuclear sub -- Casey James Fury simply didn't want to be at work. Fury admitted to setting fire to the USS Miami, a nuclear sub, in May 2012 while it was in dry dock.


Reported security incidents
#1: An explosion has killed at least 10 women in a graveyard in eastern Afghanistan as the country celebrated the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, officials say. Police were unable to confirm the cause of the explosion in the Ghani Khel district of the province of Nangarhar.

#2: The Taliban ambushed a convoy of a female Afghan senator on Wednesday, seriously wounding her in the attack and killing her 8-year-old daughter and a bodyguard, officials said. Senator Rouh Gul Khirzad's husband, son and another daughter were also wounded in the attack in the Muqur district of Gazni province, according to Deputy Governor Mohammad Ali Ahmadi. Ahmadi said the ambush took place on the main highway from Kabul to the southern city of Kandahar.

#3: DIG Operations Quetta Fayyaz Ahmed Sumbal and 28 other policemen were killed while 42 others injured in a powerful blast in Quetta on Thursday, Local TV reported. The blast occurred in a lawn of the mosque where preparations were being made for the funeral prayer of Station House Officer (SHO) City Mohibullah, who was shot dead on Thursday morning. Sources said higher police officials were also attending the funeral prayer.

#4: Three civilians, including two children, were killed and nine others wounded in two back-to-back explosions in eastern Afghan province of Wardak, the provincial government said in a statement. "The enemies of Afghanistan initiated a roadside bombing in Tatro area of Nirkh district at around 7:00 p.m. local time. Several people gathered following the blast. But another explosion went off causing the casualties," the statement said.

#5: Several people including Afghan civilians and security forces were injured following an explosion in eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan on Wednesday evening. Deputy provincial governor Mohammad Ali confirming the report said at least 13 people were injured following the explosion. Mr. Ahamdi further added that the explosion took place in Ghazni city roundabout. He said Afghan police and children were among those injured.
 
#6: A heavy explosion rocked southern Helmand province of Afghanistan on Wednesday evening. According to reports the incident took place after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives near the Helmand Radio Television located in Malalai Park while the convoy of provincial security chief was crossing the area. Provincial governor spokesman Omar Zwak said at least four security guards of the security chief Gen. Mohammad Hakim Andar were injured, and the health condition of one of them is critical.

#7: He said the incident took place after a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle laden with explosives into the convoy of Gen. Mohammad Hakim Andar. According to Mr. Zwak at least two civilians were also injured following the explosion.


DoD: Spc. Nickolas S. Welch

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