Can the West avoid Russia's fate in Afghanistan?
Probably one of the most insightful articles I have read for quite a while. The editor discusses parallels between the failed Soviet campaign and the current Allied one operating in Afghanistan - and why the Allied one looks destined to be a failure as well.
Here’s one quote on the fundamental mistake that both sides have made in the campaign:
You dispersed the Taliban and had some local support. That’s when you should have gone home leaving the Afghans in charge. We made the same mistake, seeking to impose our Soviet way of life, telling them they should have collective farms, pioneer camps and so on.
