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, September 24, 2014

War News for Wednesday, September 24, 2014


NATO concludes AWACS mission in Afghanistan


Reported security incidents
#1: A US drone strike killed at least five suspected militants near the Afghan border in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, intelligence officials said.  

#2: Thirteen militants were killed in fresh airstrikes by Pakistan Air Force in Tirah Valley at Khyber Agency today. Political administration has confirmed that 13 militants were killed by the jet fighters of Pakistan Air Force. Several militant hideouts were also destroyed in the airstrikes.

#3: At least three civilians were wounded in a blast in Mazar-i-Sharif city, the capital of northern Afghan province of Balkh, on Wednesday morning, police said.

#4: Four police were killed while four others were wounded as Taliban launched an attack on a security checkpoint in Kunduz city, capital of northern Afghan province of Kunduz on Wednesday morning, police said. "The militants attacked an Afghan Local Police (ALP) checkpoint in Atmanzai locality in outskirts of Kunduz city at around 08:00 a.m. local time. Four ALP cops were killed and four ALP members were wounded as a result of the gunfight lasting for a while," an ALP official Sarraj Uddin told Xinhua.

#5: An Afghan lawmaker escaped unhurt from an attack by militants in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan. According to local security officials, the incident took place late Tuesday night in Kelagay area. Provincial police spokesman, Jawid Basharat said a group of militants attacked the vehicle of lawmaker Aashiqullah Wafa while he was returning to capital Kabul.

Posted by whisker at 3:57 AM

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