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


Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Security Incidents for 04/10/07

Photo: Iraqi boys inspect a crater where the US forces detonated captured explosives damaging houses and shops nearby in Diwaniyah, 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, April 10, 2007, during weekend's clashes between Mahdi Army militiamen and U.S. backed Iraqi troops. (AP Photo/Jalal Mudhar)

Baghdad – Joint Iraqi-U.S. forces backed by helicopters raided the neighborhood of al-Fadl, in central Baghdad, after sealing off all main entrances to the area, eyewitnesses said.

Baghdad – Four Iraqi civilians were killed and nine others wounded when a car rigged with explosives went off on in central Baghdad.

Baghdad – Four U.S. soldiers were killed and another wounded in Baghdad and al-Anbar province, the U.S. army said.

Baghdad- The U.S. army said on Tuesday four Iraqi army soldiers were killed and two others were wounded while sixteen U.S. service members were also wounded during a security crackdown in al-Fadhil area, central Baghdad.

Baghdad- A student was killed and 10 others were injured on Tuesday when a mortar shell hit a high school in Palestine street in eastern Baghdad, an Iraqi police source said.

Baghdad - Around 4 p.m. a mortar shell landed in Baia neighborhood (west Baghdad). Three residents were injured.

BAGHDAD - A car bomb at an intersection near Baghdad University in the southern part of the capital killed five people and wounded 11, police said.

BAGHDAD - At least 10 people were killed in clashes between gunmen and Iraqi and U.S. forces in central Baghdad, police said. The U.S. military said two helicopters were hit by small arms fire but returned to base safely. Residents said they saw helicopters rocket buildings where gunmen were holed up.

BAGHDAD - Several mortar rounds landed in three districts in southern Baghdad on Monday, killing one person and wounding four, police said.

Baghdad - A raging, daylong battle erupted in central Baghdad on Tuesday and four Iraqi soldiers were killed, 16 U.S. soldiers were wounded and a U.S. helicopter was hit by ground fire at the close of the second month of the massive security crackdown on the capital.

Baghdad - Police found 9 dead bodies throughout the capital in the following neighborhoods: 1 in Hurriya, 2 in Amil, 1 in Baia, 2 in Sileikh, 1 in Mansour, 1 in Yarmouk, 1 in Saidiyah.

Falluja – Four unidentified bodies were found by local policemen in central Falluja, while a curfew imposed on the city was lifted, a security source said.

Falluja – A member of the Falluja local council was killed by unidentified gunmen, an Iraqi police source said.

Kirkuk – An armed group killed an Iraqi army soldier while heading to his unit on Tuesday morning, an official security source said.

NEAR KIRKUK - The bodies of two people were found shot and tortured in Rashad, a town near Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

Mosul – Three civilians were wounded when a U.S. helicopter pounded a house in Mosul, capital of Ninawa province, a security source said.

MOSUL - The bodies of three people were found with bullet wounds on Monday in Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

Muqdadiya – Fifteen people were killed and 28 others wounded, mostly policemen, in an attack waged by a female suicide bomber outside a police station in central Muqdadiya, northeast of Baaquba, an Iraqi police source said. [Another report said 17 were killed and 22 injured. – dancewater]

Diala - Five Iraqi soldiers were killed on Tuesday when an explosive charge went off near their patrol vehicle in Diala province, central Iraq, a police source said.

Najaf – The civilian administration in Najaf announced an end to the curfew imposed since Monday on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the occupation of Iraq, a media source in the Shiite province said.

Hilla – Two civilians were killed and four others from one family were wounded when an explosive device was planted inside their home by gunmen in northern Hilla, a source in the Babel police said.

DIWANIYA - A four-day-old curfew was lifted in the southern city of Diwaniya, 180 km (110 miles) south of Baghdad, where Iraqi and U.S. forces have been battling gunmen in an operation to drive the Mehdi Army militia out of the city.

Basra- A policeman was killed and 13 civilians were wounded on Tuesday in cross-fire during clashes between British forces and gunmen in western Basra, 550 km south of Baghdad, a media source in Basra police department said.

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