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, October 3, 2014

War News for Friday, October 3, 2014

The DoD is reporting the death of Sgt. 1st Class Andrew T. Weathers who died at at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany on Tuesday September 30th. He was wounded in a small arms weapon attack in Helmand Province Sunday, September 28th.


Afghan army death rate spikes 30 percent

Pakistan may break own record on polio cases


Reported security incidents
#1: Pakistan fighter jets pounded militant positions in Jamrud and Bara areas of north western Khyber tribal region on Friday killing at least 15 terrorists.

#2: Two militants were killed and eight others were wounded in airstrikes carried out by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency, ARY News reports on Friday.


DoD: Sgt. 1st Class Andrew T. Weathers

Posted by whisker at 3:34 AM

2 comments:

Cervantes said...

A U.S. Marine who ejected from an airplane over the Persian Gulf is "presumed lost at sea," the U.S. Navy said Thursday, marking the first reported casualty from the ongoing operation against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.

The Marine and another crew member ejected from an MV-22 Osprey when the aircraft lost power and it appeared it might crash after takeoff Wednesday from the USS Makin Island, the Navy said. The pilot of the Osprey regained control of the aircraft and safely landed it aboard the Makin Island while rescuers recovered the other crew member from the water, the Navy said."

This won't be the last one, obviously.

October 3, 2014 at 8:26 AM
whisker said...

I bet this will be an OEF casualty.

October 3, 2014 at 11:39 AM

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