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, December 12, 2014

War News for Friday, December 12, 2014


Reported security incidents
#1: A teenage suicide bomber attacked a French-run high school in Kabul on Thursday, walking into a packed auditorium during a theater performance and killing a German citizen, Afghan officials said. Salangi said 10 Afghan citizens were also wounded in the attack, including journalists covering the event.

A renowned Australian Afghan musician has been wounded in a Taliban suicide attack on a cultural performance in Kabul

#2: A bomb planted on a motorbike exploded in Sibi city (Balochistan) on Thursday, wounding at least 10 people, police and administration officials said. “At least 10 people have been injured in the blast … in Sibi city,” said district police chief Anwar Khetran. A senior government official in Quetta confirmed the incident and causalities.

#3: At least 17 militants were killed following military operations in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, local security officials said Friday.

Posted by whisker at 3:00 AM

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