Russia warns NATO that it repeats the same mistakes the USSR did in Afghanistan

[Skybird]

Which I think - and said many times - is true.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7888566.stm

As they have an old word of wisdom about Afghanistan: "History shows that it's easy for any foreign power to get into Afghanistan - but it is incredibly hard to get out of that place again."

Yes and before the Soviets it was the British. Rudyard Kipling wrote:

"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, and the women come out to cut up what remains, jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains and go to your gawd like a soldier."

The war between the Soviets and Afghanis is one the most cruel ever. Soviets executed a large part of the P.O.W.'s on the spot, the Afghanis did the same but also used some pretty nasty torture, like cutting off limbs etc. Really nasty stuff.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

Yes and before the Soviets it was the British. Rudyard Kipling wrote:

"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, and the women come out to cut up what remains, jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains and go to your gawd like a soldier."

The war between the Soviets and Afghanis is one the most cruel ever. Soviets executed a large part of the P.O.W.'s on the spot, the Afghanis did the same but also used some pretty nasty torture, like cutting off limbs etc. Really nasty stuff.

You misspelled god.

[Tchocky]

http://www.everypoet.com/archive/poe...sh_soldier.htm

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

You misspelled god.

No. Kipling did.

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-y...itish-soldier/

[SUBMAN1]

By yes he did!

On the subject of the post:

Afganistan however - much much different than when the Soviets were there, so I'm having a hard time fathoming how they see it as the same? Crap, when the Soviets rolled into town, there was no choice, no government for the people by the people, it was the Soviets way or the highway (to the grave that is). Period.

Much much different. While I don't think they will achieve a pure republic over there, i think they can at least get them on the path to a normal stable government where democracy may take the to a state of being a republic in the future. So they may have to deal with an oligarchy for some period of time, though I hope they can break it and transition to a republic at some point.

The biggest difference between the war now and the Soviets war - This war is for the people, not against the people. So where everyone wanted to be a mahjadeen during the Soivets war, this time around, only the Taliban and Al Qeida are the only ones really fighting. This is why success in some form or fashion is a guarantee this time around.

-S

This war is for the people, not against the people.

Is it ?
Perhaps you had better tell the locals as before the invasion the Taliban were in terminal decline due to lack of support by the people but now they are back on the ascendancy with local support .
The main reasons for this could be put down to the simple fact that the department of defense did some very comprehensive papers on how to do afghanistan and what definately not to do ....but the people running the show didn't do hardly any of the "how to do Afghanistan" stuff and did nearly all of the "what not to do" things instead .
They studies even went to great lengths do describe why working with the United Front(northern alliance) as allies wouldn't be a good idea . I think the summary term they used was that it would result in the "lebanonization" of Afghanistan .

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

The biggest difference between the war now and the Soviets war - This war is for the people, not against the people. So where everyone wanted to be a mahjadeen during the Soivets war, this time around, only the Taliban and Al Qeida are the only ones really fighting. This is why success in some form or fashion is a guarantee this time around.

-S

From what I've heard and read it doesn't seem like the average Afghani people are that friendly toward Nato there. Increasingly the body count is going up on both sides with no end in sight.

It could be said that the Taliban has gained from the half-assed US war there and in Iraq. And I see no exit strategy for the US. Hell, they're even still in Iraq, sort of.

[Kapt Z]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

By yes he did!

On the subject of the post:

Afganistan however - much much different than when the Soviets were there, so I'm having a hard time fathoming how they see it as the same? Crap, when the Soviets rolled into town, there was no choice, no government for the people by the people, it was the Soviets way or the highway (to the grave that is). Period.

Much much different. While I don't think they will achieve a pure republic over there, i think they can at least get them on the path to a normal stable government where democracy may take the to a state of being a republic in the future. So they may have to deal with an oligarchy for some period of time, though I hope they can break it and transition to a republic at some point.

The biggest difference between the war now and the Soviets war - This war is for the people, not against the people. So where everyone wanted to be a mahjadeen during the Soivets war, this time around, only the Taliban and Al Qeida are the only ones really fighting. This is why success in some form or fashion is a guarantee this time around.

-S

I want to believe you're right. I really do. But.....