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


Monday, October 29, 2012

War News for Monday, October 29, 2012







Reported security incidents
#1: According to local authorities in eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan, at least 5 Taliban militants were killed and four others were detained following a joint military operation by Afghan and coalition security forces in Ghazni city on Sunday night. Deputy provincial governor Mohammad Ali Ahmadi said the operation was conducted at Qala-e-Ghazi area in eastern Ghazni city on Sunday night and continued until dawn time on Monday.  In the meantme local residents in the area claimed that an Afghan man and woman were also killed following the operation however deputy provincial governor did not confirm the report but said that there was possibility of civilians casualties following the clashes since the Taliban militants were using a residential house to target Afghan and coalition security forces. Another Afghan security official in Ghazni province speaking on the condition of anonymity confirmed the deaths of an Afghan man and woman in the clashes.

#2: According to local authorities in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, at least two Afghan national army service members were killed following a roadside improvised explosive device blast in Garmser district on Monday.


DoD: Staff Sgt. Kashif M. Memon

DoD: Sgt. Clinton K. Ruiz

Posted by whisker at 5:13 AM

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)