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, June 2, 2013

News of the Day for Sunday, June 2, 2013

Afghans with disabilities protest the attack on the Red Cross compound in Jalalabad. Taliban leaders have denied responsibility for the attack.

One ISAF soldier and a civilian working with the force are killed by "direct fire" in eastern Afghanistan late Saturday, while another ISAF service member is killed in a separate explosion. No further details as of now.

Thirteen insurgents and four police officers are killed in a fight in Nuristan. An additional 24 insurgents and two police said to be injured. The fighting, which lasted 18 hours,  occurred in the Gohardissh area of Kamdish district, near the Pakistan border. (These highly disproportionate casualty totals seems suspect, especially given the lack of any stated military support for the Afghan forces, but there is no way to independently verify the government account. --- C)

Interior Ministry claims Afghan and ISAF forces have killed 57 militants in 24 hours.

Four civilians are killed by a roadside bomb in Uruzgan.

The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MoLSAMD) says that 6 million Afghan children are not enrolled in school. (This story addresses children who are working for money in one way or another; it does not address the issue of education of girls.)


Posted by Cervantes at 4:50 AM

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