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


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

War News for Tuesday, June 24, 2014


ISIS in Iraq stinks of CIA/NATO ‘dirty war’ op

Pakistan rejects Afghanistan’s allegations -- Pakistan on Tuesday rejected the Afghan allegation that Pakistani troops in civilian dress were doing any action inside Afghanistan

Over 450,000 people displaced in northwestern Pakistan


Reported security incidents
#1: An Afghan official says an attack at a police checkpoint in the country's west has killed four people, two policemen and two civilians. Administrative district chief Mohammad Rafiq Alokozay says gunmen opened fire and lobbed hand grenades at the checkpoint in Obey district in Herat province on Tuesday.


Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2014/06/24/5222758/official-gunmen-kill-4-people.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2014/06/24/5222758/official-gunmen-kill-4-people.html#storylink=cpy

#2: Thirteen more terrorists were killed as military jets continued strikes to destroy terrorists’ hideouts in Tirah valley of Khyber Agency bordering Afghanistan, SAMAA reported. According to ISPR, the military aircrafts targeted hideouts on Tuesday morning, killing 13 terrorists during the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb operation.

#3: An Afghan police officer opened fire Monday inside a security compound in Gardez, Afghanistan, wounding two advisers from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, authorities said. Coalition soldiers returned fire and killed the attacker, Paktia province police Chief Zalmay Oryakhel told CNN.

#4: A total of 104 people, including 35 civilians have been killed as clash continues between Taliban militants and security forces in southern Helmand province, a former Taliban stronghold over the past four days, spokesman for provincial administration Omar Zawak said on Tuesday. "During the clash which begun four days ago, 104 persons, including 24 security personnel, 35 civilians and 45 Taliban militants have been killed," Zawak told Xinhua. He also said that more than 800 Taliban insurgents are involved in the clash against security forces in Sangid district.

#5: Pakistan army said a suicide bomber killed two soldiers and a civilian in North Waziristan tribal region on Tuesday.

#6: The Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs on Tuesday said that the country's security forces had killed 22 Taliban militants during operations since early Monday.

#7: A group of armed Taliban attacked on Dasht Archi district of Kunduz province, faced with resistance of Afghan security forces in which four rebels including Qari Ataullah a leader of rebels killed.

#8: Another report says: A Mine blast wounded two security guards of Machalgho Dam of Paktia province. Col. Zalmai Oryakhail security chief of Paktia said BNA, the incident occurred while the vehicle of the guards crossing the road  hit a road side mine, in which two policemen wounded.


DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

Staff Sgt. David H. Stewart

Lance Cpl. Brandon J. Garabrant

Lance Cpl. Adam F. Wolff

0 comments: