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, February 25, 2014

War News for Tuesday, February 25, 2014

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF civilian from a non-combat related incident in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, February 24th.


Bhatkal claimed nuclear bomb available in Pakistan: NIA


Reported security incidents
#1: Pakistani fighter jets and gunship helicopters bombarded hideouts of Taliban militants in the troubled North and South Waziristan Agencies on Tuesday killing at least thirty militants, Geo News reported.

#2: Three students were killed on Tuesday by a bomb hidden in a motorcycle in front of their school in southern Afghanistan, an official said. “The incident took place in Marjah district, three other students were wounded,” said Omar Zwak, spokesman for the governor of Helmand province. He said all the victims were young men 20 to 21 years old.

#3: At least two paramilitary soldiers were killed in a suicide attack close to the Iranian consulate in Pakistan's Peshawar city Monday, media reports said. A suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vest near the Frontier Corps (FC) check post close to Iranian Consulate which left nine others inured, reports said.

#4: At least 8 insurgents were killed and heavy poppy and ammunitions seized in southern province of Kandahar, governor office said in a statement Tuesday. According to the statement, a 24-hour operation was launched in restive Saydan village of Panjwaye district, where eight insurgents were killed and a quantity of opium and ammunitions seized.

Posted by whisker at 4:09 AM

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