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


Monday, March 24, 2014

War News for Monday, March 24, 2014


Reported security incidents
#1: Four militants were killed and another was injured when security forces stormed Taliban hideouts in the southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan, the provincial government said in a statement sent to media Monday.

#2: Two policemen and a rebel were killed when Taliban militants ambushed a police patrol in southern Afghan province of Helmand, sources said on Monday. "Militants numbering nine to 10 ambushed a police patrol in Dorzu area of Garmsir district late Sunday night, leaving two policemen and one militant dead," the provincial government spokesman told Xinhua.

#3: A local radio station was bombed Monday in Kama district of eastern Nangarhar province, a provincial security official told Xinhua, adding that the blast destroyed all apparatus of Radio Qalam FM and damaged the building but did not cause any human casualties.

#4: As many as nine insurgents were killed and some arms and ammunitions seized during a clearance operation, the pro-government forces launched in eastern Nangarhar province, an official said Monday.

#5: At least three people were killed when unknown gunmen opened fire at a car here on Monday.

#6: According to reports, a suicide attack has take place in western Farah province of Afghanistan on Monday afternoon. The attack has reportedly taken place in Posht-e-Rod district of Farah province. There are no reports regarding the casualties as a result of the incident. Unconfirmed reports suggest an Afghan Local Police (ALP) commander was the target of the attack and at least two ALP officers have been injured.

#7: Afghan intelligence foiled coordinated suicide attacks plot in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan by arresting a group of suicide bombers along with weapons and explosives. The National Directorate of Security (NDS) announced Sunday that the militants were looking to carry out at least five suicide attacks in various parts of Helmand province

Posted by whisker at 4:05 AM

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