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


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

War News for Wednesday, August 07, 2013


US declares Pak tribal Bahawal Khan as 'global terrorist'

More rain forecast for upper KP: Met Office

Bomb targeting MPA kills 7, injures 27

Obama administration authorized series of recent drone strikes in Yemen


Reported security incidents
#1: Three persons including two children were killed in an explosion at Goth Pervaiz Domki near Jahan Bukhshpur on Wednesday here, Local TV reported. Police said that an explosion took place at Goth Pervaiz Domki near Bukhshpur here resulting in the death of three persons including two children and wounded one according to initial report.

#2: Six militants had been killed and 25 others arrested as Afghan National Police (ANP) launched cleanup operations in six provinces, the country's Interior Ministry said Wednesday morning. In past 24 hours, the ANP conducted several clearance operations with the cooperation of Afghan National Army, NDS ( intelligence service) and Coalition Forces in Nangarhar, Baghlan, Badakhshan, Uruzgan, Logar and Helmand provinces. As a result six armed Taliban were killed, one wounded and 25 others were arrested, " the ministry said in a statement issued here.

#3: At least two people were killed and 15 others wounded in an explosion near shopping centre of a local market in Mastung, Geo News reported. Police have confirmed the blast, however, the nature of the blast was yet to be ascertained.

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