Afghan Follies: Part Three? Gorby Says Yes

This guy might know a bit about Afghanistan and what not to do - ya think - yep. Worth a read for sure.

clipped from www.nytimes.com Soviet Lessons From Afghanistan By MIKHAIL GORBACHEV What began after Sept. 11, 2001, as a seemingly appropriate military response aimed at rooting out terrorism could end in a major strategic failure. In 1979, the Soviet leadership sent troops to Afghanistan, justifying that move not just by the desire to help friendly elements there but also by the need to stabilize a neighboring country. The greatest mistake was failing to understand Afghanistan’s complexity — its patchwork of ethnic groups, clans and tribes, its unique traditions and minimal governance.