Same Old Mistakes In New Afghan War

Soviet Forces in Afghanistan (1980s). Photo from Japan Focus

From The Guardian:

Soviet military archives show latest international intervention in Afghanistan has learnt nothing from the war two decades ago.

Eight years into the war in Afghanistan: the most senior defence official running the conflict receives a letter from one of his officers. It is a depressing list of political and tactical failures.

"We should honestly admit," he writes, "that our efforts over the last eight years have not led to the expected results. Huge material resources and considerable casualties did not produce a positive end result – stabilisation of military-political situation in the country. The protracted character of the military struggle and the absence of any serious success, which could lead to a breakthrough in the entire strategic situation, led to the formation in the minds of the majority of the population of the mistrust in the abilities of the regime."

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My Comment: Long time readers of this blog know that my Uncle and two of my cousins served in Afghanistan for the Soviet military at the height of the war. Their comments and observations have always been invaluable to me when I write about Afghanistan .... especially now when it appears that we are at a crossroads on where our Afghan policy should go.

Reading this Guardian article, I can feel the presence of my relatives. Peter Beaumont for the Guardian understands what is happening in Afghanistan .... unfortunately .... his view is still in the minority.