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, June 23, 2014

War News for Monday, June 23, 2014


Abducted Afghan students, lecturers released by Taliban

NL in new Afghanistan military

Republicans Dick Cheney and Rand Paul clash over blame for Iraq crisis


Reported security incidents
#1-2: An Army jawan and a civilian were injured in two separate mine blasts in the border belt of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said today.

#1: During patrolling in the forward area, Mr Mohd Maroof of the 17th Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JKLI) stepped on a mine resulting in explosion at Dugwar along the Line of Control in Poonch district yesterday.

#2: In another incident, a civilian, Mr Mohmmad Ayoub, stepped on a mine leading to an explosion while he was grazing cattle in Karmara belt of Poonch district last evening.

#3: Seven Afghan army troops were killed Monday in a roadside bomb attack in the country 's southern province of Zabul, authorities said. "An army vehicle set off a roadside bomb planted by the militants in Shah Hassan Khel area of Shahjoy district Monday morning," the district governor Malik Ali Mohammad told Xinhua.

#4: A commander of Taliban with his brother killed and three other insurgents wounded in air attack of NATO forces in Nangarhar province.

#5: At least nine people were injured following five back-back-back explosions in eastern Paktia province of Afghanistan on Sunday. According to local government officials, the incident took place in Gardez city on late Sunday afternoon.

Posted by whisker at 3:59 AM

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