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


Monday, September 29, 2014

War News for Monday, September 29, 2014


New Afghan president sworn in after disputed vote

Taliban kills Australian citizen: Reports

Taliban detainees break prison in Herat province


Reported security incidents
#1: A Taliban suicide attacker killed four civilians and injured two near Kabul airport on Monday. "We can confirm a suicide bomber on foot detonated near the airport, killing four people and wounding two," said a spokesman for the police investigation department.

#2: A fighter detonated a explosives laden vehicle at the entrance of a district headquarters in Paktia's Zurmat district on Monday, leading to a heavy exchange of gunfire between the Taliban and security officials which resulted in three of the other fighters being killed. At least eight other people, including four police officers, two intelligence staff and two civilians were killed in the attack, police said. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

#3: Five militants were killed and four others were injured on Monday in a blast in the remote Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency. Intelligence sources said the blast occurred at the Lashkar-i-Islam base in Kandao area and left at least five militants dead and four others injured. Sources said that militants were testing an explosive device when it exploded causing the casualties.

#4: A bomb blast killed eight people Sunday in northwestern Pakistan. The bombing struck a refugee camp housing internally displaced people on the outskirts of the city of Hangu, police officer Anwar Saeed Kundi said. He said the bomb was rigged to a motorcycle and killed eight people, including three children. It wounded 17 people, he said.

#5: Meanwhile, the U.S. drone strike killed four suspected militants in South Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan along the Afghan border, intelligence officials and Taliban fighters said.

#6: 'In precise aerial strikes last night 5 terrorists hideouts were destroyed and 15 terrorists including foreigners were killed in Shawal area of North Waziristan Agency' it said.
#7: A man was killed when unknown gunmen opened fire in Kechi Baig area of Quetta on Monday, Geo News reported. According to police, unidentified armed men barged into a house and opened indiscriminate firing on a man named Amdaan and fled from the scene.

#8: At least policemen were martyred following an attack by Taliban militants in northern Jawzjan province, local officials said Monday. The attack was carried out on a police check post in Qosh Tapa district late Sunday night leaving three more injured. Provincial police spokesman, Abdul Manan Raufi said two militants were also killed during gun battle with the police forces.

#9: A civilian was killed and seven others were injured following an explosion in northeastern Takhar province of Afghanistan. The incident took place late Sunday in in Baharak district, local government officials said. Provincial police spokesman, Khalil Asir said the explosives planted in a motorcycle went off near a health centre, leaving one person dead and seven others injured.

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