Russia pulled out of Afghanistan after NINE years! We will be there TEN!!

[KansasVoter]

Remember when we all wondered how in the world Russia with the 2nd most powerful military in the world could not beat a bunch of back ass Afgan fighters? I actually remember people ridiculing them. I guess I feel different now.

Interesting information:

The initial Soviet deployment of the 40th Army in Afghanistan began on December 24, 1979 under the leadership of Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev. The final troop withdrawal started on May 15, 1988, and ended on February 15, 1989 under the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Due to the interminable nature of the war, the conflict in Afghanistan has often been referred to as the Soviets' Vietnam in relation to the Vietnam War.

[Ozymanithrax]

1. Russia pulled out because their economy was collapsing after the

gigantic expense of the war.

[DJ13]

10. Deja Vue aint it?

[yourout]

2. Now it is going to be our Vietnam part 2.

Sad

[lapfog_1]

3. Actually, we beat the Taliban in about 6 months or less,

using very few US troops. But then we DIDN'T win the peace. We took our eye off the ball and invaded Iraq. Had we sent 150,000 troops to maintain the peace in Afghanistan, put as much effort into re-establishing a democracy there as we did with Iraq, AND spent a great deal of money (but much much less than we spent in Iraq) rebuilding schools and infrastructure and buying their agricultural products... we wouldn't be there now.

[Oregone]

7. This is bothersome

The idea that the US, or any country, has the ability to overthrow a government with direct military intervention, occupy, and erect a puppet government that will transform into a credible self-sustaining entity, if we only just do it right....

I mean really? Despite corruption, warring factions vying for power, animosity against the invaders, etc? Can this be done if just done "right"?

Some people must believe it to be in favor of the current escalation.

[lapfog_1]

11. Hate to break it to you... but the Taliban was the

Puppet government that WE installed, right after we helped them remove the puppet government that the Soviets installed.

You have to go back a long ways to find a "legitimate" government of Afghanistan.

[Oregone]

12. Not exactly at all

After the Soviets left, the country was in a state of civil war and disarray due to the power vacuum and opposing warlords trying to seize power, which existed for some time. The Taliban wasn't immediately installed by anyone. They were embraced by some people after some time who saw them as the better alternative to the status quo of war. Some of the gangs and factions out there were no better and some a bit worse.

The US trained mujahideen, sure, but they gave two fucks after the Soviets withdrew, other than the arms trade.

[lapfog_1]

14. who armed the Taliban?

It was their silly pickup trucks with the machine guns that allowed them to take power. Who left that stuff (plus a bunch of stinger missiles) there for them to use?

We may not have formally installed them, but we sure created the conditions that allowed them to take over. And we didn't give a flying fuck about it or anything that happened after that.

[Oregone]

15. "but we sure created the conditions that allowed them to take over"

Yes, that I agree with. But the actual consolidation and build up of their power in those conditions was somewhat organic. Other US trained/outfitted warlords could of exploited the opportunity also, so it wasn't like it was some purposeful government the US put there. The Taliban, as a formal organization, wasn't even on the map for years after the Soviets left. The reality is that they truly had the support of the people because the alternatives (more fucked warlords or civil war) was worse. Omar sold em on a pretty package.

Without that organic level of support, I just don't see a legitimate power taking over. Fortunately for Afghanistan, nothing could potentially unite them quicker under a single banner than having a foreign occupier sticking around.

[lapfog_1]

16. Maybe it took actual living under the Taliban for a while..

but currently in Afghanistan, less than 10 percent of the population want the Taliban back in power.

Probably FEWER than that want the US presence, but in an odd twist, a majority are afraid of what will happen should we leave.

We are sort of like a Mafia protection racket. Keeping the gang violence down, but not well liked by the local citizens.

[jgraz]

4. Hey, the USSR went on to great success after Afghanistan

Oh wait...

[knightinwhitesatin]

5. What is our 10 year anniversary gift?

n/t

[Bolo Boffin]

6. Do we have anybody feeding the Afghans anti-aircraft weapons?

If it hadn't been for Charlie Wilson's War, the Soviets might have been there much longer.

[Oregone]

8. If it wasn't for US intervention, they may not have been there at all

The original funding was prior to a war, with the intention to draw the Soviets in and give them their own "Vietnam".

And...well, who knows. Some theorize all that sweet military money given to Pakistan flows into the Afghan insurgents hands via corruption.

[FrenchieCat]

9. And Obama has been President for 10 months....

and so?

[old guy]

13. We're #1. We're #1!!!