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, April 9, 2017

Update for Sunday, April 9, 2017

A U.S. soldier is killed in action in Nangarhar in an operation against the so-called Khorasan group. No further information as of now.

In what appears to be the same operation, local officials claim that 25 militants were killed in air strikes and ground operations. The majority of the dead are said to have been foreigners. No information is given on government casualties.

Twelve Taliban are said to be killed by a "foreign troops" drone strike in Kunduz. (Presumably that means U.S.)

Nine Afghan soldiers killed by IED in Balkh, four others are killed in an ambush as they more to relieve a besieged district headquarters in Jawzjan province.

Iraq/Syria

Muqtada al-Sadr calls for Bashar al Assad to resign, for the good of Syria, and for the U.S. and "all external forces" to withdraw. This seems to represent a sharp break with Iran.

Real estate heir Jared Kushner's recent trip to Iraq draws widespread ridicule.

IS is said to have killed dozens of civilians attempting to flee Mosul in recent days.




Posted by Cervantes at 5:05 AM

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