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


Monday, June 25, 2012

War News for Monday, June 25, 2012

The Italian Defense ministry is reporting the death or an Italian soldier at a police training base somewhere in western Afghanistan on Monday, June 25th. Two additional soldiers were wounded in the blast. Here's the ISAF release.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an IED blast in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, June 23rd.

NATO is reporting the death of another ISAF soldier from an IED blast in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, June 23rd.
 
NATO is reporting the deaths of two ISAF soldiers in a traffic accident in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Sunday, June 24th.
 
NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from a non-combat related injury in an undisclosed location in western Afghanistan on Sunday, June 24th.


Lucrative Afghan Oil Deal Was Awarded Properly, Karzai Says

10 al-Qaida members escaped from Yemeni jail in Aden: security official

Reported security incidents
#1: The Pakistan military says militants have killed six troops after crossing into the country from Afghanistan. It also says 11 militants were killed during the fighting Sunday in the northwestern Upper Dir region. Pakistan has complained that militants use parts of Afghanistan for sanctuary from which to stage attacks inside Pakistan. The charge helps Islamabad counter frequent US and NATO complaints that militants behind much of the violence in Afghanistan come from Pakistan.

#2: According to local police officials in southern Helmand province, several Afghan police officers were poisoned in this province. The officials further added the incident took place at a police academy in Lashkargah city on Monday. Provincial governor spokesman Dawood Ahmadi confirming the report said around 40 Afghan police officers were poisoned before lunch time on Monday and were taken to hospital for treatment purposes.
#3: According to local authorities in eastern Ghazni province at least 1 Afghan civilian was killed and another one was injured following an explosion in this province. The incident took place in Ali Lala area in eastern Ghazni city after explosives planted in a cycle went off on Sunday afternoon.

#4: An International Security Assistance Force helicopter made a forced landing in southern Afghanistan yesterday. ISAF is still in the process of assessing the circumstances to determine more facts; however, initial reporting indicates that there was no enemy activity in the area. All crew members have recovered with no reported fatalities and the site of the incident is secure.



IT/DM: Sc. Manuele BRAJ

DoD: Lance Cpl. Eugene C. Mills III


Posted by whisker at 4:13 AM

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