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, November 26, 2012

War News for Monday, November 26, 2012

NATO is reporting the death of a USFOR-A soldier from an insurgent attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, November 24th.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an IED blast in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Monday, November 26th.


US may keep 10,000 troops in Afghanistan

For Private Security Guards in Kabul, Hazardous Duty


Reported security incidents
#1: At least 19 people have been injured in a bomb attack in the eastern Afghan city of Khost. Local officials say the bomb was planted on a bicycle and detonated early on November 26 in a market. All of those wounded are civilians, with several in critical condition.

#2: Six people, including two policemen, were wounded in a roadside bombing in the Haska Mena district of eastern Nangarhar province on Monday, an official said. The explosion took place in Yaghi Bund area around 7:30am, the district chief, Israr Ahmed Qari, told Pajhwok Afghan News. The bomb exploded near a police patrol. A witness, Shahid Asifullah, said the police vehicle was comprehensively destroyed and one policeman critically wounded in the blast that also damaged other vehicles passing the scene.

#3: Two Taliban militants were killed and six others, including brother of a shadow governor, were wounded in northern Faryab province, a military official said on Monday. The two-day operation was conducted in Mato and Chalgazi areas of Qaisar district, Gen. Noor Muhammad Hamid, the 209th Shaheen Corps commander, told Pajhwok Afghan. A brother of Mullah Daud, the Taliban’s governor for Faryab, was among the detainees. Ten villages of the district were cleared of Taliban, the ANA commander said. An inhabitant of Khwaja Ganti area, Syed Shafiq, said four militants, including a commander, were injured in the offensive. He had no information about ANA causalities.

#4: Unknown miscreants Monday attacked a police mobile van apparently with a bomb near Acheeni check-post here, however, no casualty has been reported. According to district police here, the incident occurred in Sarband area where the miscreants targeted the mobile van of the Sarband police station apparently with a low intensity bomb that blasted with a huge bang.

 
#5: Explosives were found under the vehicle of Geo News’ senior anchor and journalist Hamid Mir in Islamabad Monday, Geo News reported. According to initial reports, Hamid Mir went to the nearby market in his car and after returning home, the neighbor’s driver spotted a suspicious bag under his car. The bomb disposal squad was immediately called in to remove the bag after which it was revealed that the bag contained half kilograms of explosive material that was diffused by the squad.

#6: At least five people, including three cops, were injured in a grenade attack on a hotel in Mardan. According to details, an ASI and two other police officials of Police Station Matloon were having meal at a hotel when some unidentified persons hurled a hand grenade at them. The attack injured ASI Irshad, Constable Tauseef Shah and Constable Ghani Akbar and two civilians. The injured were shifted to a hospital in Peshawar.


DoD: Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin R. Ebbert

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