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 30, 2014

War News for Monday, June 30, 2014


ISIS declares 'caliphate' stretching across Iraq and Syria


Reported security incidents
#1: The Taliban have established a foothold in southern Afghanistan in a 10-day battle against Afghan forces, locals said Sunday, as the army and police struggle to prove they can defeat the insurgents without NATO help. A coordinated assault by 800 Taliban fighters on police checkpoints and military posts began on June 19, with Afghan forces rushing to recapture parts of Sangin district in Helmand province.

#2: The Pakistani army has launched a major ground assault in North Waziristan's tribal areas. It comes after two weeks of air strikes on targets associated with the Taliban. Pakistani forces moved into the northwestern town of Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan and a Taliban stronghold on Monday. In a statement, the military said it had found underground tunnels and bomb-making factories there.

#3: Units of Afghan police backed by the army have killed 14 Taliban militants during operations in Taliban former stronghold the southern Helmand province over the past 24 hours, the Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Monday.

At least 60 militants were killed during clashes with the Afghan national army (ANA) soldiers in various parts of Afghanistan.

#4: Eight Afghan military forces were martyred in Logar province last night. Abdul Hakim Ashaqzai police chief of Logar province told BNA, in clashes between armed oppositions and Afghan security forces, a National army and seven National police forces were martyred in Arza district, Logar province.

#5: The Pakistani military fired 21 more rockets in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan, local officials said. The officials further added that the rockets were fired on Sunday night in Shegal and Dangam districts.

#6: At least three Taliban militants were killed following a US drone strike in eastern Kunar province.

#7: At least ten Afghan national army (ANA) soldiers were martyred in separate improvised explosive device (IED) attacks.

#8: The anti-government armed militants attacked a NATO military base with a rocket in southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan.

Posted by whisker at 4:07 AM

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Seems to be getting bad again in Afghanistan.

July 1, 2014 at 2:44 AM
Cervantes said...

I'm not sure it was ever good.

July 1, 2014 at 6:25 AM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)