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, November 28, 2014

War News for Friday, November 28, 2014


U.S. seeks to build lean Iraqi force to fight the Islamic State


Reported security incidents
#1-3: Four police officers were killed and dozens of civilians injured Friday in three attacks, officials said, as a spate of deadly violence continued across Afghanistan.

#1: In the southern province of Helmand, a suicide bomber detonated a truck laden with explosives near a police checkpoint in the Nawzad district, killing four police officers and wounding five others, said Omar Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor, where the incident took place.

Tens of suicide bombers attacked on a military base in Shorabad district, Helmand province this morning. At first a suicide bomber exploded his improvised explosive device near entrance gate of military base and later on tens others with their heavy and light weapons clashed with militaries. A military commander of Helmand said BNA, the security forces succeeded to kill several assailants but clashes continue there so far. Yet, no casualties reported in the incident.

#2: A bomb went off inside a mosque during Friday prayers in the eastern province of Nangarhar, injuring more than 30 worshipers, according to provincial police. Seven of the injured were reportedly in critical condition.

#3: In the usually peaceful northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, a bomb planted inside a cart wounded three civilians, police spokesman Sher Jan Durrani said.

#4: Taliban fighters staged an attack Thursday evening in an upscale district in the Afghan capital Kabul, injuring a Nepali guard. Witnesses described multiple explosions and bursts of gunfire in the Wazir Akbar Khan district, which contains numerous foreign embassies and compounds housing international agencies and companies — as well as the homes of some senior Afghan government officials. Kabul Police Chief Gen. Mohammad Zahir said there were three explosions followed by extended gunfire. A Taliban spokesman said the intended target was a guesthouse in the district occupied by foreigners. The spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity, refused to give further details, adding only that the target of the attack was, "enemies."

#5: Three armed militants were killed and another arrested in clashes by security forces in Maidan-Wardak province. The clashes occurred during several operations of security forces in different region of Sayeedabad and Chak districts of Maidlan-Shaher. According to media office of Maidlan-Wardak province, in the clashes three armed militants lost their lives and another arrested

#6: Taliban militants have kidnapped at least ten civilians in northern Sar-e-Pul province of Afghanistan. According to local government officials, the civilians were abducted late on Wednesday evening between Balkhab and Kohistanat districts.

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