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


Saturday, April 26, 2014

War News for Saturday, April 26, 2014

NATO is reporting the deaths of five ISAF soldiers from a helicopter crash in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, April 26th. News reports the crash was in the Takhtapul district of Kandahar province.

The MOD can confirm that a UK helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan today, 26 April 2014. The incident is under investigation and it would be inappropriate to comment further until families have been notified.


Afghan floods: Hundreds dead, thousands homeless


Reported security incidents
#1: At least 18 people have been killed and 15 injured in fierce clashes between two rival tribes in Pakistan's lawless North Waziristan in the last three days, security officials and locals said on Saturday. Clashes erupted on Thursday on a lingering land dispute between rival tribes in the Lawara Mandi area of the troubled region. Both sides have been using rockets, mortars and heavy weapons against each other, a senior security official told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity.

#2: Units of Afghan national army have killed Taliban commander along with 10 comrades in the southern Ghazni province on Saturday, an army spokesman Nazifullah Sultani said.

#3: According to local authorities in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan, at least 18 missiles have been fired by Pakistani forces in this province late Thursday. Provincial security chief, Gen. Abdul Habib Syed Khel confirmed that 18 missiles long-range missiles fired from the other side of Durand Line, landed in Dangam district. Gen. Syed Khel further added that no casualties were incurred to the local residents but some financial losses were reported.


News: Jon Gabel

News: Gary Gabel

3 comments:

Dancewater said...

Taliban has no clue to whom it should return captive US soldier

Dancewater said...

Obama may start up a big war before he leaves office - he sure is trying. He is so much like Bush it is sickening. And war on North Korea is much more likely than war on Russia, who would beat our asses to pulp.

US President threatens North Korea

Dancewater said...

Not sure why that link did not work, but here it is:

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_26/US-President-threatens-North-Korea-with-military-force-to-defend-allies-5259/