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 15, 2014

War News for Saturday, November 15, 2014

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an enemy attack an undisclosed location in northern Afghanistan on Friday, November 14th.


Reported security incidents
#1: Three Georgian soldiers serving in a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan were injured in a suicide bomb attack. Georgia’s Ministry of Defence released a statement Nov.15 that said three members of the Georgian Armed Forces were patrolling the Bagram Air Base territory when a suicide bomber blew himself up.

#2: At least three Afghan border policemen and 10 militants were killed after Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints in the country's eastern province of Kunar Saturday morning, police said.

Hundreds of armed Taliban attacked on military and civil foundations of Nari district, Kunar province this morning. According to reports, clashes continue between assailants and military forces in several regions of Nari district. Eyewitness said that hundreds of Pakistani and Afghan Taliban militants are involved in the attack.

#3: At least six militants were killed and eight others captured on Saturday during raids in Pakistan's restive southwestern Balochistan province. "The raids took place in the mountainous region of Bolan district where insurgents and militants are believed to have safe hide outs," a security official said.

#4: Three armed commanders of Taliban were killed in clashes of ANA forces in Kapisa province the other day. Qari Sharbat, Qari Neyazullah and Qri Shaker were targeted by ANA forces in different parts of Tagab district and lost their lives. Eight people affiliated to Taliban group were also wounded in the clashes.

#5: former provincial representative of Herat and one of prominent Islamic scholar in the west of the country was killed by unknown gunmen late yesterday night. Shaikh Azisullah Najafi targeted by unknown gunmen and lost his life in Herat city.

#6: At least five militants were killed following a US drone strike in eastern Kunar province on Friday, local security officials said Saturday.

#7: At least 40 Taliban militants were killed and 10 others were injured following military operations in the past 24 hours.

Posted by whisker at 4:17 AM

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