AFGHANISTAN: Soviet experience has much to teach NATO

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In this article

  • Neglected history
  • Background -- failure of reform
  • Rural resistance
  • Unruly ally
  • Transformative visions
  • Intervention -- limited aims
  • Local trigger
  • Unwanted intervention
  • Limited aims
  • Campaign -- military limits
  • Learning process
  • Afghan allies
  • Transient success
  • Air power
  • Broken ceasefires
  • Withdrawal -- elusive objectives
  • Elusive consensus
  • Leaders and institutions
  • International spoilers
  • The aftermath
  • Why the USSR failed
  • Ignorance of the country
  • Unclear mission
  • Inadequate force
  • Inability to hold ground
  • Poor coordination
  • Inability to close border
  • Loss of domestic support
  • The cost
  • Lessons for the West
  • Redefining objectives

What is this?

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