Trial & Error: The Strategic Failures of America’s War in Afghanistan

[@randyb3347]

Incredulous. We took all of the lessons learned in Vietnam and turned around and made the same mistakes again in Afghanistan. And that was AFTER watching the Soviets fail miserably in Afghanistan. At least the Soviets were intelligent enough to get out after 9 years. We stayed for 20 and we're suppose to be the smart country. After the Soviets got burned and humiliated in Afghanistan, I have no doubt that Putin and the Russians consider it salve on their wound, and appreciate that America has demonstrated to the world that we aren't capable of holding the country either. That smug look you always see on Putin's face? That's what two trillion dollars worth of salve looks like.

[@amanpasha8990]

Americans scholars ignore facts when it suits their interests/narratives. Coll has done the same. For instance, Pakistan became disinterested in the so called war on terror that the U.S. was waging in Afghanistan because the U.S. was tacitly/passively allowing India to develop assets in Afghanistan to destabilize the western regions of Pakistan. Americans also ignore the fact that corruption in Afghanistan played a major role in the reemergence of Afghan Taliban. Another fact is that the Afghan War is is a decentralized war, which means the commanders on ground decide when to fight and how to fight. It does not matter whether the leadership is in Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iran. How Afghan Taliban fund their efforts against the U.S.? From the the war economy the U.S. has created. Steve Coll should be more objective and less bias.

[@OuterHeaven210]

Pretty astute observation!

[@southpawrighthook6205]

In Coll’s books, he hits hard on the corruption in the Afghan government, but ISI after 2006 provided direct support against a supposed ally, the US. That is a fact. They are double dealing, and just blaming India isn’t going to fly.

[@arminius6506]

Everyone in America don't want to like mention that the first thing USA did in Afghanistan was to establish an extremely anti Pakistani regime. They'll also not talk about Ethno fascists tendencies in Kabul regime which surpasses Nazis hatred for Jews

[@arminius6506]

@@southpawrighthook6205 it was USA who tried to play the double game by establishing an anti Pakistan regime and literally gave it away to your new darling India. We just reacted to your treachery.

[@felawes]

Corruption and the US failure to appreciate its extent and management is central to the catastrophic failure of American policy, money, military, and hopes.

[@felawes]

Furthermore Steve Coll views the World through telephoto and not wide angle eyes.

[@tahirmushtaq6235]

No body win in ifghanistan

[@morningmotivation7931]

USA not remain as super power ...USA lost everywhere

[@amanpasha8990]

Steve Coll has been proven wrong on so many accounts.

[@moss787]

Cool, any facts to state here?

[@tahirmushtaq6235]

Only usa propaganda

[@nervgear2254]

American propaganda !