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


Wednesday, September 9, 2009

War News for Wednesday, September 09, 2009

MNF-Iraq is reporting the deaths of three Multi-National Corps – Iraq service members in a roadside bombing in an undisclosed location in northern Iraq on Tuesday, September 8th.

The McClatchy Press is reporting the deaths of four U.S. Marines from in a complex attack in eastern Kunar province, Afghanistan on Tuesday, September 8th. Eight Afghan troops and police and the Marine commander's Afghan interpreter also died in the ambush. Three Americans and 19 Afghans were wounded, and U.S. forces later recovered the bodies of two insurgents.

The BBC is reporting the death of a British soldier during a raid to free N.Y Times reporter Stephen Farrell in the Char Dara district, Kunduz province, Afghanistan on Tuesday, September 8th. Mr. Farrell's Afghan colleague Sultan Munadi and two Afghani civilians were also killed in the raid.

The Washington Post is reporting the death of a Polish soldier at a military hospital in Lublin, Poland on Tuesday, September 8th. from injuries sustained in a roadside bombing in Ghazni province, Afghanistan on Friday, May 22nd.


Sept. 2 airpower summary:

Sept. 3 airpower summary:

Sept. 4 airpower summary:

Russia, Iraq agree on two gas pipeline projects:

Military control of press could make truth a casualty:

NATO worried about Afghan war debate:

Afghan militant group in secret talks with the West?

NYTimes: U.S. in Delicate Spot Over Marred Afghan Vote:

6 Turkish soldiers killed in clashes with PKK:

Iraqi shoe thrower offered cars, homes and a wife: Report:

Big U.S. Bases Are Part of Iraq, but a World Apart:


Reported Security incidents:

Baghdad:
#1: Police and witnesses say U.S.-backed Iraqi soldiers have raided a home in southeastern Baghdad, killing two men inside and arresting an Iraqi soldier from an intelligence unit. The U.S. and Iraqi militaries had no immediate comment on the report. An Iraqi police officer says the raid took place before dawn on Wednesday in a predominantly Shiite district of the capital called Zafaraniyah. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.

#2: A policeman and two civilians were wounded Wednesday by a roadside bomb blast in northeastern Baghdad, a police source said. “A roadside bomb, planted by unknown gunmen in Bob al-Sham region, northeastern Baghdad, went off while a police vehicle patrol was passing, injuring a policeman and two passing civilians,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#3: Two civilians were wounded on Wednesday by a roadside bomb in central Baghdad, a police source said. “A roadside bomb, planted by unknown gunmen on the road near Sahet al-Watheq in al-Karada region, central Baghdad, exploded on Wednesday (Sept. 9) injuring two passing civilians,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Diyala Prv:
#1: One civilian was killed and two others were wounded in a bomb explosion in south of Khanaqin on Wednesday, according to a security source. “An improvised explosive device went off on Wednesday (Sept. 9) near a civilian car in Imam Wes region in al-Saadiya district, south of Khanaqin, killing one civilian and injuring two,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “One of the wounded persons is in critical condition,” he noted.


Karbala:
#1: Four civilians were killed when an explosive device went off near their vehicle in the the Iraqi southern city of Karbala, a government source said.


Nassiriya:
#1: An explosive charge, targeting the strategic line of electricity in Nassiriya, was defused on Wednesday, the police department said. “Bombs experts managed to defuse an explosive charge of 5kg of C4, planted under the main electricity line in west of Nassiriya,” the police said in a statement received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Kirkuk:
#1: In the north, two policemen were killed and three others injured when a bomb targeting their patrol exploded on the Kirkuk-Daquq road in the early hours of Wednesday.

#2: A U.S. patrol was attacked on Tuesday in southwestern Kirkuk, without causing damage, a source from the joint coordination center said. “One U.S. patrol was attacked by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launched by unknown gunmen in al-Seray neighborhood in al-Huwaiyja district, southwest of Kirkuk,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “Police forces rushed to the area,” he said, noting that the attack caused no damage.

#3: Four persons on Wednesday were killed and six others were injured when a booby-trap car bomb went off in Kirkuk, according to a police source. “This afternoon, a car bomb targeted a house in al-Orouba area, killing four persons and wounding six others according to an initial count,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Mosul:
#1: Two persons working with a lawmaker were wounded in a sticky bomb explosion in northern Mosul, a police source said Tuesday. “A bomb, stuck to a civilian car, went off in al-Shurta neighborhood in northern Mosul, wounding two people, who work with MP Mahmoud al-Azawi,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: An Iraqi soldier was killed by gunmen in eastern Mosul on Tuesday, according to a security source. “Unknown gunmen opened fire on an Iraqi army soldier while on duty at an Iraqi army checkpoint in al-Methaq neighborhood in eastern Mosul,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#3: Three Iraqi soldiers were wounded in an improvised explosive device blast in northern Mosul, a police source said on Tuesday. “An explosive charge went off Tuesday night (Sept. 8) targeting an Iraqi army vehicle patrol near Ninewa Hotel, northern Mosul, injuring three soldiers,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#4: An army officer was killed and two civilians were wounded Wednesday in a sticky bomb blast in northern Mosul, according to a security source. “A bomb, stuck to an Iraqi army officer’s vehicle, went off on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 9) in al-Majmouaa al-Thaqafiya region, northern Mosul, killing him instantly and injuring two civilians,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: One soldier and seven Islamist insurgents were killed in clashes in Pakistan’s north-western Swat Valley during a major offensive to expel Taliban from the area, the army said Wednesday. According to a military statement Wednesday, the security forces conducted a search operation at Charai near Malam Jabba, a tourist resort in the scenic valley. “During an exchange of fire with terrorists one soldier was martyred and two soldiers were injured,” said the statement. “Seven terrorists were also killed.”

#2: Two British servicemen have been injured after a suicide bomber blew himself up near a military base in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence said the suicide bomber detonated the device near to the entrance to Camp Bastion, the main UK base in the country. An MoD spokesman said the injuries were not life threatening. At least two Afghan civilians were killed and several others injured in the blast.

#3: At least five people have died in the second suspected US drone attack in 24 hours in north-west Pakistan, according to security officials. Two missiles targeted a compound used by Taliban fighters in North Waziristan late on Tuesday, said the officials. The home belonged to Maulana Ismail, a commander loyal to a militant group led by Jalaluddin Haqqani, said officials.

#4: Clash between Afghan troops and Taliban insurgents in Kandahar province south of Afghanistan claimed the lives of two insurgents and forced nine others to lay down arms and surrender, an official said Wednesday. "The gun battle occurred in Panjwai district Tuesday night and the troops killed two militants on the spot. Nine more insurgents laid down arms and surrendered to the troops," senior military commander in south Afghanistan General Shir Mohammad Zazi told Xinhua.

#5: Suspected Taliban on Tuesday attacked several oil tankers in Quetta and Peshawar that were reportedly carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan. In a first-ever attack of its kind in Quetta, unidentified persons torched eight oil tankers near the Western Bypass.

(photos) Three NATO supply trailers catch fire in Pakistan

#6: Also, suspected Taliban attacked two oil tankers in Peshawar, injuring their drivers and a helper on the Ring Road, police said.



DoD: Staff Sgt. Michael C. Murphrey

0 comments: