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


Friday, November 7, 2008

War News for Friday, November 07, 2008

MNF-Iraq is reporting the death of a Coalition force Soldier of non-combat related causes in Kirkuk Province on Thursday, November 6th.


Nov. 4 airpower summary:

Bulgaria withdraws from Iraq, Defence Minister says:

U.S. issues final Iraq security offer:

Obama Victory Alters the Tenor of Iraqi Politics:

Georgia Claims on Russia War Called Into Question:


Reported Security incidents:

Baghdad:
#1: A civilian was killed and six others were injured when a roadside bomb detonated on Friday afternoon outside a house in the al-Jami'a neighborhood, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. An Iraqi police patrol headed immediately to the neighborhood but another roadside bomb struck one of its vehicles while approaching the scene. The vehicle was damaged and three policemen aboard wounded, the source said.

A roadside bomb was placed just outside the house of Haider Hassoon who has been previously displaced and had just returned to his home in Jamia neighbourhood, west Baghdad. It detonated just as he left his house at 12.30 p.m. Friday killing him outright, injuring six civilian passers by. A police patrol headed for the site of the explosion was targeted by another bomb that injured three policemen and destroyed their vehicle.

#2: Two people were killed and seven others wounded when a roadside bomb attached to a taxi cab went off at al-Dora neighborhood, southern Baghdad, an Iraqi police source said on Friday. “Two persons were inside the car,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq. “The bomb went off near an Iraqi army checkpoint,” he added.


Diyala Prv:
Baquba:
#1: A Sahwa fighter was killed and four others were wounded in a bomb explosion in north of Baaquba city on Friday, a security source said. “An improvised explosive device went off in the main street in al-Azeem region in Khalis district, north of Baaquba, targeting Sahwa fighters’ vehicle, killing one and injuring four,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq. “One of the wounded men remains in critical condition,” he added, without giving more details.

A roadside bomb targeted a minibus transporting Sahwa members in al-Atheim area, 15 km to the north of Baquba at 11.30 a.m. Friday killing two Sahwa members and injuring five others.


Hawija:
#1: An IED exploded in al-Askari neighbourhood, Hawija district at 10.45 p.m. Thursday in front of the house of a civilian causing material damages to the house. The Sahwa forces found and defused another IED in the same neighbourhood at 10.50 p.m.


Al Anbar Prv:
Karmah:
#1: American losses listed that day (thursday) included two U.S. soldiers wounded in a roadside bomb attack near the town of Karmah west of Baghdad as they responded to reports of a bomb in the area, the U.S. military said.



Afghanistan:
#1: A suspected U.S. missile strike killed at least 13 people near the Afghan border Friday, security officials said, the latest in a surge of attacks that a top American general said has eliminated three militant leaders. The strikes are likely to trigger fresh anger from Pakistan's civil and military leaders, who say they undercut support for their anti-terror efforts, and from many of its 170 million people. The suspected cross-border attack took place in Kam Sam village in North Waziristan region, a stronghold of Taliban and al-Qaida militants blamed for attacks on U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan and rising attacks within Pakistan. A Pakistani intelligence official said an agent who visited the village reported that 13 suspected militants had died.

#2: A Dutch journalist kidnapped by suspected Taliban rebels in Afghanistan a week ago was freed Friday and is in good health, her employer said. The woman, whose name was not released, was captured on Saturday last week while she was en route to do a story about a group of Taliban who had killed 10 French soldiers in August, an editor at the Belgian P-magazine told AFP.

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