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


Tuesday, December 24, 2013

War News for Tuesday, December 24, 2013

The military is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from a direct fire attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Monday, December 23rd.


Soldier from the Royal Engineers killed in Afghanistan

U.S. Softens Deadline for Deal to Keep Troops in Afghanistan

Over 500 Taliban prisoners released from Afghan jails


Reported security incidents
#1: Afghan security forces have killed two Taliban militants including a key commander and injured two others in the eastern Laghman province and extended government control over several villages, a statement released by provincial administration said Tuesday. "Security forces kicked off operations against Taliban militants in parts of Alinegar district on Sunday night and during Tuesday's operations, two Taliban rebels including a key commander were killed and two others sustained injuries,"the statement added.

#2: National Directorate of Security (NDS) forces arrested a group of four insurgents, who were appointed to assassinate Nangarhar provincial governor, Maulavi Ataullah Ludin.

#3: At least 7 militants were killed and 8 others were injured during military operations by Afghan national security forces during the past 24 hours, interior ministry said in a statement.

Posted by whisker at 3:18 AM

1 comments:

Dancewater said...

and meanwhile, in Iraq, the horror started by the US government, continues.......

so very sad.

December 26, 2013 at 8:14 AM

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