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, October 17, 2013

War News for Thursday, October 17, 2013


Documents reveal NSA’s extensive involvement in targeted killing program


Reported security incidents
#1: A Pakistani military official says two soldiers have been killed in separate incident. In the second incident, the Pakistani official says a soldier was killed by militants near the border with Afghanistan in South Waziristan.

#2: At least 10 people including a provincial minister were killed and over 20 others injured in a suicide attack in Pakistan's northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday evening, officials and local media said. Deputy Superintendent of Police Jan Mohammad Khan said that the incident took place when the Provincial Law Minister Israrullah Gandapur was exchanging Eid greetings with people at his residence in Kullachi area of northwestern district of Dera Ismail Khan. According to eyewitness, the suicide bomber shot dead a police guard at the main gate then entered into the main courtyard before exploding his explosive-laden vest near the minister. "The attack killed 10 persons and injured over 20 others including the elder brother of the minister," said the police officer.

#3: According to reports, Australian forces have been accused of civilian casualties during a military operation in southern Uruzgan province of Afghanistan. A young Afghan boy and his father were reportedly killed after Australian forces carried out an operation on a residential house where a suspected militant was hiding. The raid was carried out late in September in Tarinkot city and dead bodies of a young boy and his father were found after Australian forces opend fired through the roole while the entering the house, Australia’s Fairfax Media reported.


MoD: Lance Corporal James Brynin

Posted by whisker at 4:40 AM

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