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


Thursday, November 6, 2014

War News for Thursday, November 6, 2014


NATO secretary general visits Afghanistan, vows continued support after troops withdraw

U.S. drone strike kills 2 al-Qaida suspects in Yemen's south

ANSF Starts Operation In Kunar


Reported security incidents
#1: Two soldiers were killed and at least 50 others were injured when a bus carrying Frontier Corps and Khasadar personnel collided with an oil tanker in the outskirts of Peshawar, private media reported on Thursday.

#2: Taliban insurgents killed 10 civilians on Wednesday night in Paktia province, local officials said Thursday. Provincial Police Chief Zalmai Oriakhail, while confirming the incident, said that the people were killed in Zurmat district of the province.

Posted by whisker at 4:19 AM

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