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


Sunday, July 31, 2016

Update for Sunday, July 31, 2016

AP's Hamza Hendawi and and Qassim Abdul-Zara give an overview of the tactical situation in northern Iraq. Before the assault on Mosul can begin, the Iraqis must secure a 20 kilometer radius around Qayara air base so that it is not subject to rocket attacks and U.S. forces can move in. The base must also be repaired so it can land heavy transport craft. While Iraqi forces are making gains in the area, the assault on Mosul is not expected to begin until the fall, and there is no specific tactical plan for it as yet.

IS attacks a gas field in Kurdistan, killing 4 employees, peshmerga forces regain control. The same group then attacked an oil station some miles away, killing another employee and causing damage.

In Afghanistan, militia of warlord and vice president Rashid Dostum is accused of atrocities in Faryab.

Air strikes in Nangarhar said to kill 20 IS fighters. Seven IS fighters and 2 Afghan security force members (unidentified affiliation) said killed in a battle in Jawzjan.

Taliban reported to kill 24 police in various attacks in Helmand, as Taliban gain control of Khanshin district and are expanding attacks from there, and are besieging the government compound in Nad Ali. They are said to control 60% of the province. This report also says that 4, not 2 security personnel were killed in the Jawzjan fighting. This report, however, claims that Taliban were repelled in an attack in Khanshin.






Posted by Cervantes at 5:55 AM

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