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, November 3, 2007

War News for Saturday, November 3, 2007

Photo: A boy removes shattered glass off a window on a building damaged by a roadside bomb explosion in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007. A roadside bomb targeting an Iraqi army patrol went off in east Baghdad's Kamsara neighborhood, killing one pedestrian and injuring five others, police said. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Security Incidents for Saturday:


Baghdad - EFPs factory found in northeast Baghdad in al-Husseiniya neighborhood on Wednesday. They discovered a large cache of explosives at the home, including about 10 fully assembled EFPs of various sizes including one 12-inch EFP – the largest found in Iraq – approximately 90 copper plates of various sizes, more than 200 pounds of C-4 explosive, other explosive materials including TNT.


BaghdadUS forces have arrested an Iraqi MP's chief bodyguard and killed two of his relatives in a large manhunt in central Baghdad, Iraqi security sources said here Saturday.
US forces stormed the house of Abu Zein al-Abdeen, who is responsible for Iraqi MP Jalal Eddin al-Saghir's security, arrested him and killed his son, nephew and neighbor.


BAGHDAD - Gunmen wounded three Iranian Shi'ite pilgrims in the Kadhimiya district of northwestern Baghdad, police said.


BAGHDAD - U.S. soldiers killed five gunmen and arrested 10 others during operations in central and northern Iraq on Friday and Saturday, the U.S. military said.

BAGHDAD - One female U.S. soldier was killed on Thursday when a roadside bomb exploded near a patrol south of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.

BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb killed a man and wounded three police commandos when it targeted their patrol in southeastern Baghdad, police said.


BASRA - A roadside bomb targeted a convoy carrying the heads of the Iraqi army and police in southern Iraq. Both men were unhurt, but two guards were wounded, the police chief said.

Basra - British base, patrol attacked in Basra A British base at Basra airport came under indirect fire and a British patrol was targeted by an explosive device. No casualties reported. British shells were fired back at a non-residentail area in western al-Shula neighborhood. The British troops are now stationed in one base, and has about 5,250 troops there.


HILLA - Police arrested gunmen who killed a policeman in central Hilla, 100 km (60 miles) south of Baghdad, on Friday, police said. [Other reports say that 65 gunmen were arrested. This security operation was called “Broken Hearts”. – dancewater]

Hilla - Scorpion Force soldier killed in Hilla, culprits arrested


KUT - Gunmen wounded the head of Wasit University and three of his guards in central Kut, 170 km (105 miles) southeast of Baghdad, police said.


MOSUL - Two bodies were found in different parts of Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

MOSUL - Gunmen killed an employee of the Sunni Endowment, a body that manages Sunni religious sites in Mosul, police said.


KHALIS
- A roadside bomb killed one man and wounded 10 others outside a mosque in Khalis, 80 km (50 miles) north of Baghdad, on Friday, police said.


MAHAWEEL
- A roadside bomb blew up near a police patrol, killing one policeman and wounding another one in Mahaweel, 75 km (45 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.


Diwaniya - Diwaniya blast kills Polish soldier, wounds three About 900 Polish soldiers are stationed in Diwaniya. Two of the wounded are in serious condition.


Some more incidents, provided by whisker:

Baghdad: Three bodies were found in different districts of Baghdad on Friday, police said.

Mahaweel: In a separate incident, gunmen fired on police at a checkpoint, wounding one officer.

Afghanistan:

#1: One soldier has been killed and two others injured in an IED strike in southern Afghanistan today.

A 21-year old Dutch soldier was killed by a bomb in southern Afghanistan and two others were wounded in the incident, the Dutch military said. The soldiers were on a patrol in the province of Uruzgan when an improvised device exploded. The wounded are in stable condition, the military said.

#2: An Australian soldier remains in a serious but stable condition in a medical facility in southern Afghanistan after he was seriously injured by a roadside bomb yesterday. Bomb disposal expert Sergeant Michael Lyddiard was taken to the nearby facility for surgery after an improvised device he was clearing exploded.

#3: One Coalition and one Afghan National Army servicemember were killed around 5:30 p.m. today while conducting combat operations in northwest Uruzgan Province.

#4: A Canadian soldier was wounded in an explosion Friday as he patrolled a district north of Kandahar City, where heavy fighting has been seen in recent days. Several hours after the attack, the soldier was listed in fair condition and was recovering at Kandahar Airfield. The suspected improvised explosive device -- a homemade bomb -- went off during a patrol 14 kilometres northeast of the Arghandab district centre, which serves as the government and police headquarters for the area. The soldier, who was not identified by the military, was travelling in a Leopard, a German-made battle tank.

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