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


Friday, August 8, 2014

War News for Friday, August 8, 2014


Obama Allows Limited Airstrikes on ISIS

EU deploys 100 additional observers to assess Afghan vote audit


Reported security incidents
#1: An Afghan official says Taliban fighters stormed a police checkpoint overnight in southern Helmand province, killing four policemen. Deputy district Governor Mohammad Rassoul says the attack happened in Sangin district and that the Taliban have captured the checkpoint.

#2: At least 12 people, including two police personnel, were wounded in a remote-controlled explosion in Chaman Town, a township that shares border with Afghanistan, on Thursday. According to a senior police officer, the target was a police patrol vehicle. "The improvised explosive device (IED) was rigged to a motorbike which was parked near a hotel on Mall Road in Chaman. The bomb was detonated remotely when the police vehicle passed by," said Mohammed Ashraf, a police officer in Chaman.

#3: A roadside bomb struck the vehicle of district governor in Sangin district of Helmand province on Friday, killing and injuring several persons. "I along with an army officer were going to inspect a checkpoint in Sarwan Qala area of Sangin district this morning at 09:00 a.m. but a roadside bomb organized by militants struck our vehicle injuring both of us besides killing and injuring few others," Sayed Suliman Shah, the governor of Sangin district, told Xinhua from hospital bed.

Posted by whisker at 3:22 AM

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