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, October 17, 2014

War News for Friday, October 17, 2014


Reported security incidents
#1: At least 11 militants were killed and 10 others wounded by Pakistani security forces today in an operation to clear insurgents from the country's restive Khyber tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The operation is currently focused in Akakhel, Sepah and Malikdinkhel areas of Bara, where hitherto 11 militants have been killed and 10 others injured. Several militant hideouts have been targeted during the operation.

#2: Two Taliban militants, including key commander Qari Zubair, were killed Thursday night in air strikes against insurgents' hideouts in Borka district of the northern Baghlan province, police spokesman Ahmad Jawed Basharat said Friday.

#3: The security forces launched a clearing operation under the code name of Perrozi (Victory), in Tagab district, Kapisa province and cleared several villages from existing of armed insurgents.

Posted by whisker at 4:21 AM

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