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, May 11, 2014

News of the Day for Sunday, May 11, 2014

Car bombing in front of a hospital in Daman, southern Kandahar province kills 5 civilians and injures 39 people including 3 Afghan soldiers. According to the Afghan Times, the soldiers were distributing aid; but Khaama merely describes the target as a convoy of Afghan and Coalition forces.

ISAF service member dies in a non-combat incident in northern Afghanistan. No further information as of now.

Interior Ministry says 55 Taliban killed in a military operation in Farah province. As is normally the case with IM announcements, there is no mention of government or civilian casualties. (For those of you too young to remember, this "body count" style of reporting is reminiscent of the U.S. public affairs style in Vietnam. We know how that turned out.)

The Defense Ministry does admit to 2 soldiers killed and also claims 90 militants killed in various operations. Whether you find this credible is up to you.

Hezb-e-Islami Shura endorses Ashraf Ghani, saying he is the most inclusive candidate for president, while third-place finisher in the first round of voting Zalmai Rassoul endorses Abdullah, also touting him as representing all the people. (Most observers see the Rassoul endorsement as more important.)

Afghan Foreign Affairs Ministry calls on Iran to review its executions of Afghan nationals and presses for an agreement that will end the practice. (As readers will recall, Iran often puts migrants to death accusing them of drug smuggling; whereas their families claim they were merely economic migrants. This has been a major source of friction between the two countries.)

Insurgents abduct 9 mine workers in Herat province. (Since I know of no particular religious or political objection to marble mining this is likely a kidnapping for ransom.)






Posted by Cervantes at 4:54 AM

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