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 26, 2013

War News for Thursday, September 26, 2013

An International Security Assistance Force service member died when an individual wearing an Afghan National Security Force uniform shot at ISAF service members in eastern Afghanistan today.


Spanish forces leave Afghanistan after eight-year military mission


Reported security incidents
#1: Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Saeed Aleem and Major General Samrez Salak escaped assassination as terrorists group attempted to destroyed their helicopter in remote area of quake-hit Balochistan, officials said on Thursday. The incident occurred near Mashkai, town of quake-hit Awaran district of Balochistan when militants fire two rockets on chairman NDMA who was flying with senior army official to witness damages in the area. 

#2: Sixteen Taliban militants were killed in a series of joint operations carried out by the Afghan forces and the NATO-led coalition troops since early Wednesday, said the country's Interior Ministry on Thursday morning. Up to 14 militants were wounded and four arrested during the raids launched in Herat, Kunar, Nangarhar, Kunduz, Wardak and provinces, it noted.

#3: According to local authorities in northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan, Taliban militants have kidnapped at leat four Afghan national army (ANA) soldiers were kidnapped in this province. The officials further added that the incident took place in Khanabad district late Wednesday.

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