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


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

War News for Wednesday, August 27, 2014


Afghan war-boom economy goes bust as foreign troop pullout nears, election dispute rages

Afghan election audit disrupted


Reported security incidents
#1: Afghan security forces are battling the Taliban for control of the northern province of Kunduz, where insurgents are threatening to overrun the capital and terrorising residents who have fled to nearby districts.

#2: At last 5 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were martyred following roadside bomb explosion, defense officials said Wednesday. Defense Ministry spokesman, Gen. Zahir Azimi, said the Afghan soliers were martyed following improvised explosive device (IED) attack in the past 24 hours.

#3: At least 25 Taliban militants were killed and 6 others were injured during military operations by Afghan national security forces in the past 24 hours.

Posted by whisker at 4:14 AM

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