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 24, 2013

War News for Thursday, October 24, 2013


Afghan bomb squads in short supply as Nato prepares to leave

Secret memos show Pakistan 'knew of US drone strikes'

Report: Former drone operator shares his inner torment


Reported security incidents
#1: Four Afghan policemen have been killed in a night-time attack by the Taliban on a security outpost in the country's west, an Afghan official said. Police chief Sharafuddin Sharaf said the attack happened in the Bla Murghab district of Badghis province. He said the Taliban tried to storm the security outpost, triggering a three-hour gun battle and killing four members of the local police force. Three other policemen were injured.

#2: At least four Afghan national army soldiers were killed and six others were injured following militants attack and roadside bomb explosion in northern and eastern Afghanistan.

#3: At least 48 Taliban militants were killed and 38 others were injured during joint military operation by Afghan and NATO forces, Afghan officials said.

Posted by whisker at 4:22 AM

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