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, February 9, 2012

War News for Thursday, February 09, 2012

Turkish clashes with PKK militants kill 14

U.S. likely to scale down plans for bases in Japan and Guam

National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of February 7, 2012


Reported security incidents
#1: A suspected U.S. drone strike killed four people in Pakistan's tribal region Thursday morning, Pakistani officials told CNN. The drone fired two missiles at a suspected militant hideout in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, according to security and political officials, who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The attack was the second drone strike in Pakistan in as many days.

#2: Two policemen were killed and one wounded when they tried to defuse a mine planted in Lashkar Gah city in southern province Helmand on Wednesday, said Farid Farhang, a media advisor to the provincial police chief.

#3: Afghan security forces and foreign troops killed two insurgents and detained 30 more in joint operations in Kandahar, Uruzgan, Khost, Kapisa, Helmand and Herat provinces over the past 24 hours, the interior ministry said in a statement.

#4: Unidentifed attackers threw a hand grenade at a shop in Quetta, capital of southwestern Baluchistan province, wounding four people, police officials said.

#5: Gunmen on motorcycles shot and killed local politician Abdul Ghani Haqqani in the town of Chaman in southwestern Baluchistan province, near the Afghan border, security officials said.

#6: According to local authorities in eastern Afghanistan, Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police forces launched a joint military operation at eastern Khost province. Provincial security officials following a press release said, the operations have been conducted in a number of bordering regions of eastern Khost province. Sardar Mohammad Zazai Provincial Security Chief for eastern Khost province said, a number of suspected militants were detained during the military operation last evening.

#7: According to local authorities in eastern Afghanistan, at least 8 Afghan civilians were killed following an air raid by International Coalition forces in eastern Kapisa province. The officials further added, the incident took place in Nejrab district of eastern Kapisa province. A number of local residents said, the civilians were killed while they were feeding their animals on a mountain in Giawa in Nejrab district.

#8: According to local authorities in southern Afghanistan, at least 3 Afghan National police service members were killed and injured following an explosion in southern Helmand province on Thursday. The officials further added, the incident took place around 10:30 am local time killing at least 2 Afghan police and injuring 1 other. Provincial governor spokesman Daud Ahmadi confirming the report said, the incident took place after an explosive device planted in a road culvert went off at Lashkargah city. Mr. Ahmadi further added, Afghan police forces were struggling to defuse the roadside bomb when the explosion took place.

2 comments:

Dancewater said...

Sadr's guys celebrate kicking the US out of their country

Anonymous said...

Iraq War Vet Commits Suicide in Indiana Cave


http://www.indystar.com/article/20120207/NEWS02/202060377/Cops-Missing-S-Indiana-caver-shot-himself-head

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