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, December 7, 2013

War News for Saturday, December 07, 2013


Journalist loses suit over being expelled from Afghan embed


Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2013/12/06/3143511/journalist-loses-suit-over-being.html#storylink=cpy


Reported security incidents
#1: Thee insurgents leaders were arrested, while several others killed and wounded in eastern Kunar and southern Kandahar provinces, Afghanistan defense ministry said in a statement Saturday. One national army was also killed and another wounded during the operation, the ministry confirmed.

#2: A blast was heard on Akhtar Muhammad Road, in the provincial capital, here on Saturday. Police sources said that they received information about the blast on Akhtar Muhammad road and trying to ascertain its nature. Further probe was in process.

#3: update: FOUR International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers of undisclosed nationalities were wounded along with at least six civilians when a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED), driven by an unidentified militant, detonated near an ISAF patrol in the Maiwand district of Afghanistan's Kandahar province on 5 December, Afghan Islamic Press reported

#4: Nineteen Taliban militants were killed in separate military operations since early Friday, said the country's Interior Ministry on Saturday.

#5: At least 13 Taliban militants were killed or injured during a military operation in north-eastern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan.

#6: At least five Taliban militants were killed and three others were injured following clashes with the Afghan and coalition security forces in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.

Posted by whisker at 4:20 AM

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