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


Saturday, October 12, 2013

War News for Saturday, October 12, 2013


US captures top Pakistani Taliban leader


Reported security incidents
#1: At least two policemen were killed and over eight others were wounded in a suicide attack in eastern Afghan province Nangarhar on Saturday, said officials. The spokesman for governor, Ahmad Zeya Abdulzai told that a suicide bomber slammed his explosives-laden car into the provincial police headquarters in Jalalabad city.

#2: According to reports, Taliban militants have abducted four construction workers in western Herat province of Afghanistan. A local security official speaking on the condition of anonymity confirmed the report and said four workers of a construction firm were abducted by Taliban on Herat-Badghis highway.

Posted by whisker at 3:58 AM

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