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, July 22, 2014

War News for Tuesday, July 22, 2014


Reported security incidents
#1: A Taliban suicide attacker riding a motorbike killed at least four foreigners in a compound in Kabul today, police said, in the latest blast to rock the capital during an impasse over presidential election results. The attack hit close to the outer perimeter of Kabul airport. “Our initial reports show the explosion took place inside the foreigners’ compound — four foreigners were killed and six were wounded,” Kabul police chief Zahir Zahir told AFP.

#2: Thirty-eight armed oppositions were killed in several clearing operations carried out by Afghan security forces in different parts of the country yesterday. Ministry of Interior press office said BNA, Afghan security forces conducted several clearing operations in relevant areas of Helmand, Farah, Herat, Ghazni, Kandahar, Badakhshan, Parwan and Faryab provinces, in which 38 Taliban militants were killed, 13 injured

#3: Taliban militants after three days of fighting with security personnel have made headway and occupied land in Qaisar district of Faryab province 425 km northwest of Kabul, police said Tuesday. "Taliban rebels attacked security check points in the western part of Qaisar district three days ago, which triggered heavy battle between the two sides and the militants after three days of fighting were able to occupy Shakh area on Monday night," deputy provincial police chief Mohammad Naeem Andarabi told reporters here.

#4: Five Afghan civilians were killed with one civilian wounded Monday evening when Taliban insurgents attacked a vehicle in eastern province of Laghman, authorities said on Tuesday morning. "On Monday evening, armed militants fired on a running sedan along a road in Alinagar district, killing five civilians and injuring one other," the provincial government said in a statement. It said an off-duty policeman was among the killed. The motive behind the attack remained unknown.

#5: In a separate incident, a local leader was shot dead along two other civilians in Lashkar Gah city, the provincial capital of southern Helmand province late on Monday, according to provincial governor spokesman

#6:  Three mine planters of Taliban were killed in explosion of their own mine in Helmand province.

#7: Kabul (BNA) Explosion of a mine blast in 3rd section of Khairkhana area, caused wounding of two civilians. An eyewitness said BNA reporter, the mine had been installed in gate of the wall of meteorology which caused wounding of two civilians.

#7: At least five Taliban militants were killed following a premature suicide blast in eastern Paktika province of Afghanistan. According to local government officials, the incident took place late Monday in Sorubi district.

#8: At least three Afghan national army (ANA) soldiers were martyred following separate improvised explosive device (IED) attacks. The Ministry of Defense of Afghanistan (MoD) said Tuesday that the Afghan national army soldiers were martyred in the past 24 hours

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