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, August 16, 2013

War News for Friday, August 16, 2013


Laurel soldier injured in Afghanistan, 3 killed


Reported security incidents
#1: At least three passengers were killed and 23 others injured in a rocket and armed attack on a Rawalpindi bound train in Bolan district on Friday. Sources said that a rocket was fired at the Jaffar Express while it was passing through the mountainous region near Kolpur in Bolan district. He said that unknown armed men opened fire on the train following the rocket attack.

#2: Police encounter in Gulshan-e-Iqbal's Safari Park between police and criminals has left three policemen, including a DSP dead. The Wednesday midnight encounter which also left 3 criminals killed, began when beater of Gulistan Johar Thana, Waseem approached criminals of adjoining Madad Goth for demanding extortion money, which was more than the agreed amount.

#3: Two dozen militants have been killed and 10 others injured in different parts of Afghanistan, authorities said Friday.

#4: Five Afghan soldiers and three civilians were wounded Friday morning in suicide bombing in southern Afghan province of Kandahar, said a provincial source.

#5: A heavy explosion rocked capital Kabul on Friday afternoon. The incident took place in a densely populated area of Kabul city, however, no one was killed or injured following the blast. According to reports the incident took place in Cinema Pamir area of Kabul city after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives. In the meantime deputy security chief for Kabul city, Gen. Daud Amin said that the explosion took place after a magnetic bomb planted in a vehicle went off.

Posted by whisker at 4:43 AM

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