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, July 14, 2016

Update for Thursday, July 14, 2016

U.S. signs a deal to give $415 million directly to peshmerga for weapons, supplies and pay. Apparently the Baghdad government approves of this deal. That represents a significant change because they have complained in the past that aid should go through the central government. This does represent a step toward de facto recognition of Kurdish autonomy, in my view.

The U.S. claimed to have killed Omar al-Shishani, IS "Minister of War," a few weeks ago. Apparently they have managed to kill him again, this time for real, according to IS-linked sources. His death occurred in Sharqat which as we noted earlier was besieged. It now appears that IS control of Sharqat is collapsing amid infighting as the group tries to prevent fighters from fleeing. IS leadership may be resigned to losing control of any territory and going underground.

The Iraqi government held a military parade in Baghdad to celebrate recent victories, even as terror bombings against civilian targets and attacks on police in the city continue.

Muqtada al-Sadr continues to sponsor demonstrations against corruption, even as the government calls for them to stop for security reasons.

U.S. is bombing IS targets near Mosul.


Posted by Cervantes at 8:06 AM

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