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


Friday, April 26, 2013

War News for Friday, April 26 2013


Former Selah resident killed in action in Afghanistan - Aaron Blanchard, a 32-year-old Army captain and former Selah resident, was killed by enemy fire Tuesday in Afghanistan. He had been stationed at a forward operating base when it was struck by missile fire, killing him and another soldier, his mother, Laura Schactler of Selah, said Thursday. No details have been released by the military.

Afghanistan: 30 or more killed after bus crashes into fuel tanker between Kandahar and Helmand provinces

Wave of violence kills more than 180 in Iraq

 

Reported security incidents
#1: In Bannu’s Tana area, bomb disposal squad personnel defused a three-kilogram explosive device. Moreover, town municipal authority personnel discovered a bomb in the Shabqadar tehsil of Charsadda. The BDS was immediately sought after the discovery of the explosive device.

The police on Friday foiled a major terrorism bid as it seized and defused five bombs in Karak. According to Karak DPO Attiqullah Wazir, the police launched a search operation in Barbara area, bordering Kohat district where two police officials had been killed in a clash with militants. Six militants had also died in the attack. During the search operation, five bombs weighing 50 kilograms were seized which were later defused by the bomb disposal squad (BDS).

#2: In another incident, militants killed a man in Mohmand’s Halimzai area for allegedly supporting the pro-government peace committee in the region.

#3: At least 6 Afghan local police officers were shot dead in a suspected insider attack in northeastern Takhar province of Afghanistan on Thursday night. According to local authorities in Takhar province, the incident took place after the local police officers including thier commander were poisoned and shot dead.

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