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, January 25, 2014

War News for Saturday, January 25, 2014


Thousands near restive Afghan border flee after Pakistani airstrikes against Taliban militants

Taliban rule north of Kabul despite military efforts


Reported security incidents
#1: At least seven Afghan policemen killed and wounded five others following the Taliban attack on a police security check in northern Faryab province of Afghanistan. Police spokesman in Faryab, Massoud Yaqoubi said to FINNBAY, “The incident took place in Qaisar district on Friday night after a group of Taliban militants attacked to police security check.”

At least ten Afghan policemen were killed or injured following militants attack on a police check post in northern Faryab province of Afghanistan.

#2: A 16-year-old man has been killed while participating in an anti-polio campaign in Afghanistan. He was shot dead in the country's southern Helmand province.

#3: Afghan police backed by the army have killed four Taliban fighters during series of operations across the country over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Saturday. In addition to killing four militants, units of police in conjunction with the army have also injured three more rebels and captured five others, the statement added. There were no casualties on the security personnel, according to the statement.

#4: The Afghan intelligence operatives foiled a coordinated suicide attack on a NATO base in eastern Logar province of Afghanistan.

Posted by whisker at 4:55 AM

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