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, September 28, 2016

Update for Wednesday, September 28, 2016


Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi says the U.S. has agreed to send more troops to Iraq in addition to the 4,400 who are already officially deployed there. However he does not specify a number.

Pentagon walks back claim that a rocket fired at Qayyara air base last week contained mustard gas. Laboratory tests failed to confirm a positive field test.

IS sets fire to 3 more oil wells in the vicinity of Qayyara. While Iraqi workers succeeded in extinguishing oil well fires IS ignited as it abandoned the town, others continue to burn in areas not yet secured. (Note that the decision by IS to ignite wells in areas it still controls suggests they lack a means to transport and sell the oil. -- C)

Iraqi forces launch offensive al-Doulab near Ramadi after capturing additional nearby territory last week.

U.S. helicopters are said to have transported IS captives from remote areas in Anbar to undisclosed destinations. (It is of considerable interest if Iraqi authorities are indeed allowing the U.S. to hold, and presumably interrogate, these captives. -- C)

Muqtada al-Sadr opposes the participation of Iranian-backed militias in the assault on Anbar but allows that his Saraya al-Salam (the reconstituted Mahdi Army we remember from the U.S. occupation) could participate under certain conditions, including granting control of Anbar to him. (Which is not going to happen and seems a bizarre demand, frankly. -- C)

IS bombings in Shiite areas of Baghdad kill at least 17.






Posted by Cervantes at 6:49 AM

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