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


Saturday, July 19, 2014

War News for Saturday, July 19, 2014


Reported security incidents
#1: A U.S. drone strike in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region killed at least eight militants on Saturday, intelligence officials said, as Pakistani forces continued their offensive in the area. The strike targeted a compound in the Datta Khel area, close to the border with Afghanistan, early Saturday.

#2: A bomb explosion near a vehicle of the security forces killed three people and injured 26 others in Balochistan’s volatile Khuzdar district, Dunya News reported. The explosion took place on Jinnah Road in Khuzdar Bazaar.

#3: An 18-inch diameter gas pipeline burst into flames after an explosion here, affecting smooth flow of gas supply to some parts of Sindh, Geo News reported Saturday morning. Police said that the explosion occurred late at night at Malgawar rupturing an 18-inch diameter gas pipeline that burst into sky-high high flames and gas supply to parts of Sindh has been affected.

#4: Gun battle between Taliban militants and Afghan forces claimed 15 lives including 14 insurgents and one Afghan soldier in Khost province on Friday, a local official said Saturday.

#5: As a result of a mine explosion a civilian was martyred and fourteen others wounded in Baghlan province yesterday. Col. Abdul Rashid director of police department in the province said BNA, the incident occurred in a crowded market of Pul-e-Khomri city while, explosive material placed in a bicycle.

#6: Six people were wounded in explosion of a roadside mine in Farah province. Jawad Afghan spokesman of Farah governor said BNA, the incident occurred in Yazda village of Farah province while a police vehicle carrying Khalil Ahmad deputy of cultural center of security forces hit a roadside mine planted under a bridge which caused wounding of two bodyguards of deputy of agricultural center of police forces and four civilians.

#7: A heavy explosion rocked northern Mazar-e-Sharif city of Afghanistan on Saturday. The incident reportedly took place in Chawk-e-Salim Shahid area of Mazar-e-Sharif city around 1:30 pm local time.

#8: At least 33 Taliban militants were killed following military operations conducted by Afghan national army (ANA) soldiers. The statement further added that the militants were killed in various provinces of the country during the past 48 hours.

Posted by whisker at 4:50 AM

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