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


Saturday, November 1, 2014

War News for Saturday, November 1, 2014

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from a non-combat related injury in an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, October 31st.


170,000 flee Khyber operation

Four new polio cases; toll hits 235

Fanged deer pops up in Afghanistan, 60 years after its last appearance


Reported security incidents
#1: A suicide car bomber killed at least 11 members of the security forces and wounded more than 20 civilians near a police checkpoint in eastern Logar province in Afghanistan on Saturday, local officials said.

#2-3: Five security forces personnel have been killed and four others injured in two separate militant attacks in Pakistan’s restive northwest, officials said on Saturday.

#2: The first attack took place in the Orakzai tribal district when militants attacked a security post. “Four security personnel were martyred and three sustained injuries in attack on their post at Sherin Dara in lower Orakzai,” a security official said, adding that 20 militants were killed as Pakistani forces responded.

#3: The second attack occurred in the Qamar Sar area of Bajaur tribal district, on the border with Afghanistan, when a vehicle carrying security forces was hit by an IED blast. “One person belonging to the security forces embraced martyrdom and another sustained injuries when their vehicle was blown up with an IED device,” local administration official Abdul Haseeb Khan said.

#4: Unknown armed men fired rockets at the camp of a construction company in Turbat, on Saturday. -- Note: this was outside the FATA areas where most of the insurgents activity is going on.  --  whisker  

#5: In an explosion 3 people including a national security employee wounded in Pul-e-Khumri city today. Zabiullah head of 1st precinct of Pul-e-Khumri (Baghlan province) told BNA, first explosion took place in sport stadium of the city which had no casualties, after five minutes the second explosion occurred in which 2 civilians and national security employee wounded.

#6: As a result of a road side mine blast, 3 Policemen martyred in Logar province this morning. Din Mohammad Darwish Logar acting governor spokesman said BNA, the blast took place in Barakibarak district while a vehicle of police hit a roadside mine.

#7: At least 12 anti-government armed militants were killed following military operations conducted by Afghan National Army (ANA) forces in Ghazni and Khost provinces.

#8: A suicide bomber was shot dead by Afghan security forces before he manage to carry out an attack in southern Kandahar province.

#9: At least 26 prisoners were injured following a rocket attack on Bagram detention facility, according to security officials.

0 comments: