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, June 9, 2012

War News for Saturday, June 09, 2012

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier from a non-combat related injury in an undisclosed location in southern Afghanistan on Friday, June 8th.

NATO is reporting the death of an ISAF soldier in an IED blast in an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, June 9th.
 
NATO is reporting the deaths of four ISAF soldiers from an insurgent attack in an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, June 9th. News reports that 4 French soldiers died in Kapisa province possibly by a suicide bomber. Five additional soldiers were wounded in the attack.


Reported security incidents
#1: At least four policemen were killed when undefined gun men opened fire at them here on Saturday morning. According to details, two armed motorcyclists shot at policemen while they were patrolling the railway track in the Sariyab Road area. The firing killed all four policemen on the spot.

#2: Afghan Interior Ministry following a press release on Saturday announced at least 11 Taliban militants were killed following military operations by Afghan police forces during the past 24 hours. The source further added Afghan police forces conducted at least 8 military operations along with the Afghan army, Afghan intelligence and coalition security forces in Helmand, Zabul, Ghazni, Paktika, Herat and Farah provinces of Afghanistan.

#3: In a separate incident two suspected militants were killed while planting roadside improvised explosive device at Marjah district of southern Helmand province. Anti-government armed militant groups yet to comment regarding the reports.


DoD: Capt. Scott P. Pace

DoD: 1st Lt. Mathew G. Fazzari

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