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, December 11, 2014

War News for Thursday, December 11, 2014


US transfers control of final prison to Afghanistan


Reported security incidents
#1: A suicide bomber targeted a bus carrying Afghan troops Thursday morning, killing at least five soldiers. The Afghan Defense Ministry said 12 others, including civilians, were injured in the attack.
The suicide bomber approached the vehicle on foot on the outskirts of Kabul, the first suicide attack in the capital in more than a week

#2: Five high school students were killed by a NATO airstrike Thursday in Parwan province, police said.

#3: 5 armed oppositions were killed in clearing operation led by police forces in Almar district, Faryab province.

#4: Reports suggest that a huge number of Taliban insurgents last night attacked the main city of Shindand district in Herat province and took cover in civilian homes from where they started a gun battle  with the security forces. Eye witnesses say the city was completely occupied by the insurgents. But security officials only confirm the fighting with the insurgents and reject the reports that the city was fully occupied.

Posted by whisker at 3:26 AM

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