Why Afghanistan Is Impossible to Conquer - RealLifeLore

[Rhiannon12866]

[elleng]

1. Because 'it' is not an IT, rather a 'geographical expression,'

as stated here.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Exactly. It's not a unified country as we know it, but an area of numerous factions and tribes

Which doesn't recognize any official boundaries which were established by the British over a century ago. And then there's the insurmountable geography...

[SheltieLover]

6. I've read it is where empires go to die

[paleotn]

7. That's what it's known for. Really, it's just impossible to pacify....

It may not always kill empires, but it does embarrass them, going all the way back to Cyrus and the first Persian Empire in the 6th century BCE.

[burrowowl]

3. Kick!

[Hekate]

4. Fascinating. The explanation of the completely artificial borders vis a vis the Pashtuns ...

… between Pakistan and Afghanistan is particularly valuable, as is the explanation of every valley cut off from every other valley, allowing a different human ecosystem in each. Imagine every Appalachian holler writ large and multiplied.

Malcolm Gladwell wrote a very interesting book covering honor cultures, and how every single one developed in isolated mountainous locations…

[Rhiannon12866]

5. I learned quite a bit, too. I was aware of the geography, but not the issues with the borders

And I remembered when the Soviets invaded and it was said the geography made it impossible - and now I that I know more, including the disinterest of the Afghan soldiers, so it's not surprising we didn't fare better. And thanks for the book suggestion!

[paleotn]

8. And that's why it cost $2 trillion to accomplish absolutely nothing.

I don't think you can possible bold and underline enough...Why are we here? Lets get the hell out.

[speak easy]

9. Seems like a perfect place to build a centralized democracy huh?