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 10, 2013

War News for Tuesday, December 10, 2013


Planes Parked in Weeds in Kabul After $486 Million Spent


Reported security incidents
#1: Rocket attack by Taliban militants on a village in Afghanistan's Northwest Badghis province claimed the lives of six civilians on Monday night, the Interior Ministry said in a statement released in Kabul on Tuesday. "Six innocent civilians were martyred as a rocket fired by Taliban militants slammed into a house in Balamirghab district last night killing six innocent civilians," the statement added.

#2: In another violent incident, three children were killed and another injured as an explosive device went off in the northern Saripul province on Monday.

In a gruesome incident, a mine left over from the past conflicts, exploded Monday afternoon killing three innocent children in the northern Saripul province.

#3: "Units of police backed by the army have killed 15 Taliban militants during series of operations in Kunar, Laghman, Kunduz, Nangarhar, Balkh and Khost provinces over the past 24 hours," the statement added.

#4: National Directorate of Security (NDS) announced Tuesday that coordinated attacks were foiled by Afghan security forces in capital Kabul. NDS spokesman, Gen. Farid told reporters in capital Kabul Tuesday that militants had plotted to carry out 9 suicide attacks and explosion in Kabul city.

#5: According to local authorities in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan, Pakistani military fired at least six artillery shells in Kunar province. Provincial security chief, Abdul Habib Syed Kheli confirming the report said Pakistani military shelled Dandam district on Monday night.

Posted by whisker at 3:52 AM

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