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, July 5, 2010

War News for Monday, July 05, 2010

The DoD is reporting a new death of an ISAF soldier unreported by the military. Sgt. 1st Class Kristopher D. Chapleau died in an unreported non-combat related incident at Forward Operating Base Blessing, Kunar province, Afghanistan on Wednesday, June 30th.

The DoD is reporting another new death of an ISAF soldier unreported by the military. Capt David A. Wisniewski died at an unreported location presumably in a military hospital on Friday, July 2nd. He was originally wounded in a helicopter crash near Forward Operating Base Jackson, Helmand province, Afghanistan on Wednesday, June 9th.


PKK attack on Turkey-Iraq pipeline halts oil flow

Iraq Resumes Kirkuk Oil Flow To Turkey After Pipe Sabotage-Shipper

Pakistan Army Finds Taliban Tough to Root Out


Reported security incidents

Baghdad:
#1: One policeman was killed and four people were wounded in two blasts in Baghdad on Monday. “A roadside bomb went off this morning in al-Zaafaraniya area, southeastern Baghdad, targeting a police patrol,” a local police source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: Three civilians were wounded when two roadside bombs exploded in southwestern Baghdad, police said.


Shirgat:
#1: Four security servicemen and one woman were wounded on Monday in a dual bombing in al-Shirgat district. “A booby-trapped Toyota went off this morning targeting a police patrol in the left part of Shirgat, 100 km north of Tikrit city,” a local security source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. He noted that two police officers and one civilian woman were wounded in this car bombing.

#2: “A roadside bomb went off at the same location when the bomb squad arrived,” the source added. He explained that a policeman and an explosives expert were wounded in the second detonation.

#3: Five policemen and three civilians were wounded in a blast on Monday in al-Shirgat. With this third explosion, the total toll of injuries in the district today has reached 13. “The third blast occurred this morning in the Jameela area in the left part of Shirgat, 100 km north of Tikrit city,” a local security source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Kirkuk:
#1: A government-backed Sunni militiaman was found dead inside his car, in handcuffs, on Sunday in central Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.


Mosul:
#1: One civilian was killed when unknown gunmen opened fire on him in northern Mosul city. “The attack took place yesterday evening in al-Baladiyat neighborhood, northern Mosul,” a local security source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency on Monday.

#2: Iraqi army forces killed two suicide bombers wearing explosive vests in eastern Mosul city. “Army forces killed the two bombers yesterday night in the Domeez neighborhood, eastern Mosul,” a local security source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency on Monday.

#3: A roadside bomb went off near a police patrol, wounding seven, including one policeman, in western Mosul, police said.

#4: Gunmen opened fire on a civilian in southern Mosul and wounded him, police said.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: Fourteen people were injured including 11 officials while one security official was martyred in suicide attack at the cantonment gate of Scouts in Lower Dir. According to media reports, on Sunday night two militants opened fire at the gate of Balaam Butt Scouts camp while after few minutes threw hand grenades. During this period a suicide motorcar rider tried to enter inside the cantonment gate, however, he blew himself with explosive material at the gate, as gate was closed. As a result 11 personnel and two passerby nearby the gate were wounded. Later security forces in retaliation opened heavy gun firing by using artillery and targeted the outfits of militants. Officials have started search operation and imposed curfew in the area. However, no arrest has been made yet.

#2: In a separate incident, the spokesperson Pak army information cell has told that security forces have foiled the attempt of suicide attacks on the check post of Frontier Core (FC) headquarter in Tiemrgarh of Lower Dir. However, during operation forces have destroyed two vehicles of militants, which were loaded with explosive material and killed four militants while one security official martyred, others 7 injured.

#3: Six civilians, including a woman, were killed Sunday when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in the Naw Bahar district of Zabul province, the Interior Ministry said.

#4: Another civilian was killed and five injured in a similar attack in Zabul's Shinkay district, also Sunday, the statement said.

#5: Three police trainers were injured as a roadside bomb struck their car in Paktia province of east Afghanistan on Monday, spokesman for provincial administration Rohullah Samon said. "The incident took place at 08:30 a.m. local time in provincial capital Gerdiz city and three police trainers sustained injuries," Samon told Xinhua.

#6: In the latest incident, four soldiers (AU, ISAF) from the 1st Mentoring Task Force were travelling in an Afghan National Army patrol vehicle in Oruzgan province's Chora Valley when a device exploded. Two soldiers suffered minor wounds and two others received superficial wounds, a Department of Defence statement said. The soldiers were treated at the scene and taken by helicopter to an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) hospital at Tarin Kowt. two soldiers patrolling the Mirabad Valley on foot on Friday had to deal with both roadside bombs and insurgent fire. The pair were said to be in "fair condition", with minor wounds.

DoD: Sgt. 1st Class Kristopher D. Chapleau

DoD: Spc. Morganne M. McBeth

DoD: Sgt. Johnny W. Lumpkin

DoD: Pfc. Ryan J. Grady

DoD: Capt David A. Wisniewski

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