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 23, 2009

War News for Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Kidnapped Assyrian Doctor in Iraq Freed, in Critical Condition:

Pakistan’s spy agency still aiding Afghan Taliban: Krishna (Lead)

Assassinations on rise in Afghanistan: Assassinations have intensified this year, with more than 100 officials and pro-government tribal elders attacked - half of them fatallyRead more:

ACLU seeks Bagram Air Base detainee records:

US general warns against growing Indian influence in Afghanistan:


Reported Security incidents:

Diyala Prv:
#1: Four civilians were wounded in a roadside bomb explosion in central Baaquba city, a security source said on Wednesday. “The bomb went off on Tuesday night (Sept. 22) targeting a civilian gathering near al-Furousiya park in central Baaquba, injuring four civilians,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Abu Ghraib:
#1: Three civilians were wounded Wednesday in an improvised explosive device blast in west of Baghdad, according to a security source. “An improvised explosive device, planted by unknown gunmen on the road in Abu Ghraib region, west of Baghdad, went off targeting an Iraqi army vehicle patrol, injuring three passing civilians,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.


Basra:
#1: The killing of two ethnic Mandaeans in neighboring jewelry stores in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on September 19 is being considered a religious hate crime, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) reports. Salam Nassir al-Khudadi, the spokesman for Basra's Mandaean community, told RFI on September 21 that because the criminals did not steal much jewelry, the incident is likely a Mandaean hate crime.


Mosul:
#1: Police forces found a body of a civilian inside his house in eastern Mosul, a security source said Wednesday. “Police forces found on Wednesday morning (Sept. 23) a civilian body inside his house in al-Zahraa neighborhood in eastern Mosul,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#2: One policeman was killed and another was wounded when a roadside bomb went off in western Mosul city, a security source said Wednesday. “The incident took place at Ragim Hadeed area, western Mosul,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

#3: A similar improvised explosive device in Tal al-Zalat, 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of the city killed an Iraqi soldier and wounded two other troops, the official added.

#4: Gunmen opened fire on two policemen in Rejm Hadeed neighbourhood, Thursday morning, killing one and injuring the other.


Al Anbar Prv:
#1: Three Iraqi army soldiers were wounded Wednesday in a bomb explosion in eastern Falluja, according to a security source. “An improvised explosive device went off in central al-Haswa region targeting an army vehicle patrol, injuring three soldiers, including a lieutenant,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “The lieutenant is in critical condition and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment,” he added, noting that all roads leading to the region was closed.



Afghanistan: "The Forgotten War"
#1: On Wednesday morning in southern Kandahar province, a family of seven died when their vehicle struck a bomb in Panjwayi district, said Zalmai Ayubi, a spokesman for the governor. All in the car were killed including two young children, he said.

#2: Another bomb blast on Tuesday afternoon killed five people in western Farah province, according to Raouf Ahmadi, a police spokesman for the western region. They were traveling in a private van toward neighboring Ghor province when their vehicle hit the bomb, he said. Eight others in the van were wounded.

#3: A local Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Latif and his two comrades were killed Tuesday night in a clash with another group of the outfits in Herat province of western Afghanistan, the provincial police chief said Wednesday. "Two group of Taliban encountered each others in Pashtun Zarghon district as they discorded on dividing money which were collected from local people, resultantly three militants were killed and four others sustained injuries," Police Chief Ismatullah Alizai said. From the other side, Taliban commander Habib Mughol and his three men got wounded in the fire fight, Alizai added.

#4: A group of Taliban militants stormed the home of an Afghan police officer in Guzara district in western Herat province, killing his teenage daughter and wounding his wife, regional police spokesman Abdul Rahoof Ahmadi said. Ahmadi said the officer managed to escape before the Taliban set his home on fire.

#5: Three insurgents were killed when a roadside bomb they were planting in a dirt road exploded in the western Khash Rod district of southern Nimroz, provincial governor, Ghulam Dastagir Azaad said.

#6: Air raid carried out by international troops against Taliban militants on Wednesday claimed the lives of 21 militants in Nimroz province of southwestern Afghanistan, said the provincial governor Ghulam Dastgir Azad. "It was around 1 p.m. (GMT 0830), acting upon intelligence information, the international forces pounded Taliban militants on three vehicles who were reportedly driving to attack border police checkpoints in Char Borgak area near Pakistan border," Azad told Xinhua. There was no casualties on civilians because the incident occurred in a dessert zone, the official further said.


MoD: Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett

DoD: Senior Airman Matthew R. Courtois

DoD: Spc. Michael S. Cote Jr.

DoD: Spc. Corey J. Kowall

DoD: Spc. Damon G. Winkleman

DoD: Sgt. David A. Davis

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