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, May 30, 2014

War News for Friday, May 30, 2014


U.S. Strategy to Fight Terrorism Increasingly Uses Proxies


Reported security incidents
#1: At least three soldiers were killed in a bomb explosion in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of North Waziristan on Thursday, officials said. Inter Services Public Relations, the mouthpiece of Pakistan army, said in a statement that the explosive materials planted along the roadside targeted a team of soldiers patrolling on foot near Nosher Fort area of North Waziristan, a semi-autonomous tribal area along Pakistan-Afghan border.

#2: According to local authorities in eastern Paktika province, at least eight militants were killed following a NATO airstrike in this province. The provincial police chief, Gen. Nabi Jan Malakhel said the airstrike was carried out late Thursday night in Yahya Khel district.

#3: At least five Taliban militants including the group’s shadow governor for Kunduz province was killed following a military operation.

#4: A senior intelligence official was killed following an explosion in northern Jawzjan province of Afghanistan.

Posted by whisker at 4:28 AM

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