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


Thursday, July 24, 2014

War News for Thursday, July 24, 2014


DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation


Reported security incidents
#1: Two female aid workers who were shot dead by gunmen in western Afghanistan on Thursday were Finnish, according to the charity they worked for. “With deep sadness we confirm that today, July 24th, two Finnish expatriate female staff members of IAM (International Assistance Mission) have been killed in Herat,” the statement signed by acting executive director Heini Makila said.

#2: A bombing in a market in northern Afghanistan killed six people on Thursday. The attack in the market was aimed at a police car but the police escaped unharmed, said Sonatullah Timor, the spokesman for the Takhar provincial government. The bomb, which was placed on a motorcycle, wounded 26 people.

#3: a separate attack in the east killed a local police commander and his bodyguard, officials said. In a separate incident, a suicide bomber detonated his payload at a checkpoint in the eastern Nangarhar province, killing a local police commander and his bodyguard, according to police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Mashraqiwal. He said the bomber shook hands with the commander before the explosion. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a media statement.

#3: As many as 20 local and foreign terrorists were killed and four isolated terrorist hideouts destroyed by aerial strikes in Shawal valley on Wednesday as security forces cleared major part of Mirali.

#4: Unknown persons killed the personal secretary (PS) of former Member National Assembly Nasir Khan Afridi, in Peshawar’s Tajabad area on Thursday. According to the police, Bismillah Khan was traveling on Ring Road in Peshawar's Tajabad area when unknown motorcycle-riding gunmen opened fire on him.The attackers fled from the scene after the attack.

#5: Four ANA forces were wounded in a bomb blast in Logar province this morning. The incident occurred in Sheshqala region, Pul-e-Alam city capital of Logar province while a vehicle carrying ANA forces to Kabul.

#6: Seven armed Taliban including a local commander of them were killed in recent clashes in Faryab province last night. In the clashes four militaries were also wounded. The clashes started while tens Taliban fighters with their weapons attacked on several security posts in Ghoormach district.

#7: A heavy explosion rocked Khair Khana area in capital Kabul late Wednesday night. Preliminary reports suggest the blast took place due to a magnetic bomb which went off near a residential house. There are also reports of a blast in Microryan area of Kabul city. However, the security officials have not commented regarding this so far.

#8: At least 19 Taliban insurgents were killed in separate airstrikes carried out by NATO-led coalition forces in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan.

#9: Taliban militants killed a religious cleric in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, on charges of having links and cooperation with the government. The provincial government media office said Wednesday that the religious cleric – Mawlavi Hashim was initially abducted by Taliban militants on Monday night.

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