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 4, 2014

War News for Thursday, December 4, 2014

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an enemy attack an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, December 3rd.


Polish ISAF mission wraps up in Afghanistan

U.S. Army wants a new gun


Reported security incidents
#1: At least one person was killed and 10 wounded Thursday in an explosion in Pakistan's Quetta town, media reported. "The bomb was planted in a car near Sabzi Mandi in Quetta town of Balochistan province," Dawn online reported citing police official Imran Qureshi.

#2: A roadside blast apparently targeting a security forces convoy occurred in District Turbat of Balochistan on Thursday. According to police, Frontier Corps convoy was on a routine patrol in a suburban area of Sangani Sarmin in Turbat when suddenly a blast occurred as they approached their camp.

#3: Afghan police backed by the army have killed 53 Taliban militants in a series of operations across the country over the past 24 hours, the Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Thursday.

#4: A police and three attackers were killed in attack of armed insurgents on a security post in Urozgan province last night. The incident occurred in Anarjou region, Dehraod district while, a group of armed Taliban attacked on a police post. Dost Nayab acting governor spokesman of Urozgan said BNA, in the attack, a police official and three insurgents lost their lives.

#5: At least three Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were martyred following roadside bomb explosion, defense officials said Thursday.

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Posted by whisker at 3:22 AM

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