On Iraq: Those Who Forget History Are Bound To Repeat It

Newberry has written a powerful analysis of the parallel between today's Iraq War and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. And our common failures. I urge everyone watching the Iraq war to read and consider this.

The December Decision
By Stirling Newberry
t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Thursday 30 June 2005

On October 9th 2001, in the shadow of the 9/11 attacks and as part of the preparations for going to war in Afghanistan, a series of essays were prepared on previous involvements in that country. One of documents prepared, edited by Svetlana Savranskaya, was on the lessons of the Soviet invasion and occupation from 1979 until 1988. Afghanistan has a long history of foreign intervention, having been one of the key squares in the "Great Game" between Russia and England.

In dry national security prose, the report noted that "the last war of the Soviet Union created or aggravated the internal dynamics that eventually culminated in the dissolution of the country itself." This is, perhaps, too strong a phrasing, but it certainly didn't help. Moreover, the ease of the invasion and the failure of the occupation created certain sharp lessons for other powers that seek to impose their will by direct force.
www.truthout.org...

Ironic ain't it?

Russia, USA, Iraq and Afghanistan.

It would be almost amusing if we had not been involved in it all, from every possible side.

Originally posted by UM_Gazz
It would be almost amusing if we had not been involved in it all, from every possible side.

You said it.

Why even bother writing after-action reports.