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, August 11, 2012

War News for Saturday, August 11, 2012

The British MoD is reporting the death of a British ISAF soldier from an insurgent arrack in the Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan on presumably on Thursday, August 9th. Here’s the ISAF release.

The British MoD is reporting another death of a British ISAF soldier from an insurgent attack in the Nad-e Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan on Friday, August 10th. This was posted yesterday in this NATO release.

NATO is reporting the deaths of three ISAF soldiers from an insurgent attack in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Friday, August 10th. News reports the an ununiformed Afghani worker shot three special operations Marines at a base in Garmsir district, Helmand province on Friday night.


Marine Captain Matt Manoukian among those killed by Afghan policeman

Taliban reject UN report on civilian casualties

Bomb kills Yemeni officer, al Qaeda suspected


Reported security incidents
#1: Afghan defense ministry following a statement announced, at least 21 Afghan national army soldiers were killed or injured following militants attacks and roadside bomb blasts during the past 24 hours. The source further added, five Afghan soldiers were killed in Kunar, Paktiya, Logar, Maidan Wardak and Herat provinces of Afghanistan while 16 others were injured.

#2: According to local authorities in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, at least 4 members of the Afghan special forces were killed in this province. Sangin district chief Mohammad Sharif Khan said 4 deceased individuals were members of the special security forces and were killed by a commander of the Afghan police forces. Mr. Khan further added the assailant police commander had invited 4 members of the special security forces in his home as guests and later shot the four individual early Friday morning.

Posted by whisker at 4:50 AM

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