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


Wednesday, March 26, 2014

War News for Monday, March 26, 2014


Foreign observers face hurdles in Afghanistan

Pak team in N Waziristan to hold Taliban talks

No US drone attacks in Pakistan in 3 months

National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of March 18, 2014


Reported security incidents
#1: update  In Kabul, a candidate for a seat on a provincial council was among those killed when insurgents stormed the election office. Two election workers and a policeman were also among the dead, Kabul Police Chief Gen. Mohammed Zahir said.

#2: Pakistani militants killed one of the five Iranian border guards kidnapped in the Sistan and Baluchestan Province on February 6. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke out against the murder, RIA Novosti reports.

#3: At least 11 Taliban militants were killed during military operations by Afghan national security forces in various provinces of Afghanistan during the past 24 hours.

#4: According to local authorities in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, unknown gunmen shot dead a female police officer on Tuesday morning in this province. The incident took place in Greshk district of Helmand province early Tuesday morning, provincial police spokesman Abdul Ahad Chopan said.

Posted by whisker at 4:04 AM

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