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, January 7, 2016

Update for Thursday, January 7, 2016

U.S. soldier killed in action in Marjah, Helmand on Tuesday is identified as Staff Sgt. Matthew McClintock, of Des Moines, Washington. He was with the Washington Army National Guard’s Company A, 1/19th Special Forces Group. The linked article has more details on the incident.

President Obama will nominate Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel to command CentCom, overseeing operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. The choice is highly significant because Gen. Votel is currently head of the U.S. Special Operations Command, and has spent his career in special forces. Previously, CentCom commanders have had a conventional military background. The nomination indicates that the U.S. will continue to emphasize use of special forces in support of local troops in the ongoing wars. It is unclear what this means for the future of Gen. John Campbell, who heads the U.S. operation in Afghanistan.

The dispute between Iraq and Turkey over the presence of Turkish troops near Mosul is complicating planning to retake the city. President Obama is urging Turkey to withdraw the troops.

Germany will increase its troop presence in Iraq from 100 to 150. The soldiers are engaged in training peshmerga forces.

Iraq offers to mediate the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran, but this may not be a very credible offer as Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafar, in making the offer, referred to the execution of Nimr al-Nimr as a crime. Baghdad is in a difficult position, as it relies heavily on Iranian help in battling IS but also wants good relations with the Arab world.

Government forces continue to make slow progress clearing IS remnants from Ramadi, but the city is in ruins.





Posted by Cervantes at 7:10 AM

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