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 14, 2012

War News for Saturday, July 14, 2012



NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from an insurgent attack in an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, July 14th.

7 Officials in Afghan Investment Agency Quit, Protesting Graft

Activation of NATO supply routes will take time: US

Reported security incidents
#1:  A suicide bomber killed a prominent anti-Taliban politician and 22 other guests at a wedding reception in the northern Afghan province of Samangan on Saturday, officials said. The bomber blew himself up as he hugged lawmaker Ahmad Khan Samangani, who was celebrating his daughter's marriage, police said. The blast also killed the provincial intelligence chief and a senior police commander. Samangani was close to Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum, and commanded thousands of men in the area. The Uzbeks are part of an uneasy coalition of minority tribes that fight the Taliban in their area.

#2: Afghan security forces during series of operations across the country have killed 40 anti-government militants and arrested 28 over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Saturday. "During series of operations conducted in Bamyan, Baghlan, Kandahar, Zabul, Logar, Ghazni, Paktiya, Herat and Helmand provinces over the past 24 hours, 40 armed insurgents have been killed and 28 others arrested by Afghan National Police," the statement added.

#3: According to local authorities in southern Kandahar province, unknown gunmen assassinated security chief for 15th district in southern Kandahar city on Saturday. The officials further added the incident took place around 9 am local time at Deh-Khwaja area in Kandahar city while Misteri Rahmatullah security chief for 15th district of southern Kandahar city was on his way towards his work place.

#3: In the meantime local security officials in Kandahar province announced at least 6 people including three Afghan civilians and three Taliban militants were killed at Shahwali-Kot district. Provincial police chief Gen. Abdul Razaq said militants murdered three Afghan civilians for supporting the Afghan government in Boji area last night.

#4: According to local authorities in western Herat province, Shindand district mayor was shot dead by Taliban militants on Friday night. A local government official speaking on the condition of anonymity said Abdul Salam mayor of Shindand district was killed in front of his residential house by Taliban militants.

#5: An Italian armored vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan but escaped unscathed with 3 soldiers only slightly bruised. The event occurred yesterday evening a few kilometres from the Italian base 'Lavaredo' near Shindand, headquarters for Task Force Centre.

Posted by whisker at 3:25 AM

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