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


Friday, February 28, 2014

War News for Friday, February 28, 2014


Pakistani party ends blockade of NATO route


Reported security incidents
#1: Five policemen, including a senior officer were killed in different clashes in northern Faryab and Kunduz provinces of Afghanistan, officials said Thursday. Abdul Qadir Qaderi, Pashtunkot district chief of Faryab, said police commander, Dastan, and three of his associates were killed in a rocket attack fired by Taliban. Separately, in northern Kunduz province, unidentified gunmen stormed the house of a police officer killing him and wounding his wife.

#2: Meanwhile, residents in the Hisarak district of eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan have launched an uprising against insurgent groups in the area, a public move that made way for a military operation of the Afghan security forces against the militants.

#3: At least three militants were killed and three other injured when exchange of fire took place between militants and security forces in Khyber Agency, Tehsil Bara on Friday Morning. According to the security sources, the forces signalled to stop some motorcyclists in Shalobar area of Bara tehsil however the motorcyclists started firing in a bid to flee the scene. The forces retaliated the fire, killing three militants and injuring three others. Two security personnel also sustained injuries during the encounter

#4: At least three border guards of neighboring Turkmenistan were killed following an attack by Taliban militants, local officials in Badghis province said. The officials further added that the incident took place on Wednesday night in Moqor district of Badghis province.

Posted by whisker at 4:19 AM

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