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


Sunday, October 6, 2013

News of the Day for Sunday, October 6, 2013

Four U.S. troops killed by a bomb attack in southern Afghanistan. No further information released at this time. This brings total U.S. deaths in Afghanistan this year to 102. A total of 2,146 U.S. military have died in Afghanistan in the 12 years since the invasion October 7, 2001. The anniversary tomorrow, and the death toll, have gone largely unremarked in the United States.

German forces hand over control of a camp in Kunduz to Afghan military. About 4,000 German troops remain in the country. Fifty four Germans have died in Afghanistan since 2002, 35 in combat.

Police Lieutenant General Momen is injured by a remote controlled mine, 3 of his bodyguards are killed, in Nuristan.

Hamid Karzai's brother Abdul is running for president. 

Reports of fighting in Gujran district of Dykundi province, with 1 police officer and 1 Taliban fighter killed, and 3 police injured.

Ministry of Defense claims 11 insurgents killed in various operations in past 24 hours. As usual, there is no mention of government or civilian casualties.

Norway will cut its aid to Afghanistan due to lack of progress on women's rights and corruption. Norway has 111 soldiers in Afghanistan and has suffered 10 deaths over the years.


Posted by Cervantes at 4:52 AM

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