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, December 24, 2014

War News for Wednesday, December 24, 2014


U.S. has Spent $1.6 Trillion on Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

''A new chapter in Afghan-NATO ties''

Four including Chinese killed in AJK dam accident

US Navy investigating soldier who claimed to have shot Bin Laden

For first time, ISIS downs and captures coalition pilot -- a Jordanian

Afghan cabinet formation in final stage

Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Omar is in Karachi city of Pakistan


Reported security incidents
#1: Deputy Mayor of Ghani Khail district, Nangarhar province was shot dead by unknown gunmen today.

#2: At least 22 Taliban militants were killed and 7 others were wounded following counter-terrorism operations conducted jointly by Afghan national security forces.

Posted by whisker at 5:27 AM

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