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, January 30, 2013

War News for Wednesday, January 30, 2013


Reported security incidents
#1: Twenty militants were killed and several injured during search operation of the security forces in Khyber and Orakzai agencies, FP News desk reported on Wednesday. Sources said that security forces went into action this morning in Dawatoi area of Jamrud resulting clashes that killed 12 militants, while their three hideouts were destroyed. On the other hand, eight militants were killed and several injured in forces action in Oblan area of Orakzai agency besides two hideouts were wiped out, sources said.

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