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


Sunday, October 5, 2014

News of the Day for Sunday, October 5, 2014

As president Ghani takes the reins of power, investigation into the Kabul bank scandal resumes. Of some $913 million embezzled by former officials, $729 million is still missing. The theft involved members of president Karzai's family, including his brother.

Geolocation information in a tweet by Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid shows that he is in Sindh, Pakistan. He denies it, but it is what it is. Note that the Afghan government has consistently accused Pakistan of harboring Afghan Taliban leaders. Oops.

Local officials say security forces disrupted a planned attack on Eid-al-Adha celebrations in Faryab province.

Analyst Andrew Hammond sees the power sharing deal between Ghani and Abdullah as fragile, creating a danger of the country dividing along ethnic and regional lines should it break down.

And, back in Mesopotamia, the Marine lost at sea on Thursday is identified as Cpl. Jordan L. Spears, 21, of Memphis, IN. Note that the campaign against IS does not have a name: it's just "operations in Iraq and Syria." Hmm.

IS captures the town of Kubaisa in Anbar (near Hit), threatening the Ain al-Asad military base which is essential to defense of the Haditha dam. IS captured Hit a few days ago.

Pakistani Taliban declares support for IS.









Posted by Cervantes at 4:57 AM

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