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


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

War News for Wednesday, November 5, 2014


US military watchdog says army lost 420M dollars worth of equipment in Afghanistan


Reported security incidents
#1: Security forces killed five militants and destroyed four of their hideouts in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency on Wednesday. According to security sources targeted militant hideouts in  Drewand, Aarinam Wanra, and Zor kaley areas of Tirah Valley, killing five militants.

#2: In the latest violent event, five children were injured as a bomb exploded in Rustaq district of the northern Takhar province on Wednesday, police said.

#3: Meanwhile, security forces in operations against Taliban militants have killed 28 insurgents and injured 47 others over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here Wednesday.

#4: A group of Taliban militants launched coordinated attack on government compound in Shindand district of western Herat province late on Tuesday. Security officials confirmed that heavy gun battle continue between the Afghan forces and Taliban militants.

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