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


Thursday, September 6, 2012

War News for Thursday, September 06, 2012

NATO is reporting the deaths of two ISAF soldiers from a helicopter crash in an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan, on Wednesday, September 5th.


U.S. to Retain Role as a Jailer in Afghanistan

Libyan Alleges Waterboarding by C.I.A., Report Says

Afghan Army take security lead in 5 districts of Baghlan

Thousands Afghans Surge to Join Afghan Army to Shoot Americans -- (This is just too true just not to be meant as a satirical writing. whisker )


Reported security incidents
#1: Afghan police during series of operations have killed 38 Taliban fighters over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here Thursday. "Units of national police backed the army and the NATO-led troops conducted seven cleanup operations in different provinces including the capital Kabul and Taliban former stronghold Kandahar over the past 24 hours during which 38 Taliban rebels were killed," the statement added. Eight more Taliban fighters were injured and 15 others made captive, it contended. However, it did not say if there were any casualties on the security forces.

#2: At least 24 Afghan national army soldiers were killed or injured in various incidents across the country during the past 24 hours (posted on 9-5). Afghan defense ministry following a statement announced the national army soldiers were killed or injured in militants attacks and roadside improvised explosive device explosions. The source further added at least four Afghan national army soldiers were killed in Bakwa district of western Farah province, 10 soldiers were injured in Jalrez district of Maidan Wardak province, and 9 other soldiers were injured and another one was killed in Badghis, Nangarhar, Ghazni, Helmand and Uruzgan provinces of Afghanistan.


DoD: Lance Cpl. Alec R. Terwiske

Posted by whisker at 3:33 AM

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