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, May 28, 2014

War News for Wednesday, May 28, 2014


Obama charts end to Afghan war by 2016

Obama to leave 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan

Powerful faction splits from Pakistani Taliban


Reported security incidents
#1: Two Americans were injured Wednesday in Afghanistan when a U.S. Consulate vehicle was attacked while traveling through the western city of Herat, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul said.

The vehicle was on its way to the airport in Herat on Wednesday when an unidentified gunman on a motorbike shot at it with a rocket-propelled grenade, Basher Ahmad, chief of police for the Enjeel district, said.

#2: Unknown men blew up an eight-inch diameter gas pipeline in Pirkoh area of Dera Bugti district (Balochistan) on Tuesday. Gas supply was suspended from well number 21 after the blast. Further investigation was underway.

#3: For the second time in three months Turkmen troops along the Afghan border have suffered losses, according to Radio Liberty. Thus, three Turkmen soldiers were killed on May 24 by a small armed group that crossed the border from Ghormach district of Afghanistan's Faryab province.

#4: At least two Afghan national army (ANA) soldiers were martyred following improvised explosive device (IED) attack.

#5: Over 300 rockets landed in parts of eastern Kunar province during the past two days, local officials said. Provincial security chief, Gen. Abdul Habib Syed Khel said the rockets have landed in Shegal and Dangam districts. Gen. Syed Khel further added that the cross-border shelling left one civilian dead and 14 others injured, while 20 families were forced to leave their homes in Shegal district.

#6: At least nine Taliban militants were killed following counter-terrorism operations in various provinces of Afghanistan in the past 24 hours.

Posted by whisker at 3:42 AM

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