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


Monday, July 14, 2014

War News for Monday, July 14, 2014


Afghans to Alter the Government


Reported security incidents
#1: Pakistani jets and artillery pounded militant hideouts in a lawless tribal district, killing 18 foreign and local insurgents in a massive ongoing offensive against the Taliban, officials said Sunday. Air strikes were carried out in Mosaki area, 25 kilometres (15 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan on Sunday while artillery shelled militant hideouts in Kharkamar area, 30 kilometres west of Miranshah on Saturday night.

#2: About 77 Taliban militants were killed in army operations since early Saturday, said the Afghan Defense Ministry on Sunday. "Afghan National Army (ANA) conducted several security operations in Laghman, Ghazni and Helmand provinces over the past 24 hours, killing 77 armed militants and injuring several other militants," the ministry said in a statement.

#3: ANA forces carrying out clearing operation to eliminate armed insurgents  in Sangin district of Helmand province, killed 7 armed rebels, wounded a number of them and captured a numerous of heavy and light weapons, defense ministry spokesman press office reported BNA.

#4: Defense Ministry Press Office said to BNA that the ANA forces launched operation in  Chahardara district of Kunduz province in which 11 armed rebels killed and 9 others were arrested with 4 Kalashnikovs, some military equipment and a motorcycle.

#5: As a result of an explosion a civilian was killed and seven others wounded in Khanjan district, Baghlan province.

#6: A policeman injured following explosion of a magnetic mine in Kunduz province this morning.

#7: A loud explosion were heard in capital Kabul early Monday morning. According to reports, the explosion has taken place in Khair Khana area of of Kabul city. Local residents and eyewitnesses in the are saying that two rockets have landed in Lab-e-Jar area, without causing any casualties.

Posted by whisker at 3:52 AM

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