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, April 5, 2013

War News for Friday, April 05, 2013

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF Airman from a fixed wing plane crash related injury in an undisclosed location in somewhere in Afghanistan on Wednesday, April 3rd. News reports that an f-16 crashed somewhere in eastern Afghanistan.


New Zealand withdraws Afghan troops


Reported security incidents
#1: An official says a bomb attached to a donkey has exploded, killing a policeman and wounded three civilians. Local government spokesman Sarhadi Zwak says the donkey blew up in front a police security post in the Alingar district of Laghman province.

#1: According to reports a number of vehicles caught fire near US-run Bagram airfield on Wednesday night with Taliban group claiming reponsibility behind the incident. District police chief for Bagram Zmarai Nasiri confirming the report said the incident took place on eastern part of Bagram airbase on Wednesday night. Mr. Nasiri further added that 10 vehicles along with an oil tanker transporting fuel for the international coalition forces were destroyed following incident. Zabiullah Mujahid further added that Taliban fighters tactically attacked the oil tankers stop from the third entry gate of the Bagram Air base used by US forces. However local officials deny Taliban group’s comments and said the incident took place due to a gas cylinder explosion.

Posted by whisker at 4:08 AM

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