Russian airstrikes in Syria

[Constantinopolis]

Its not like Afghanistan fell into civil war between the Taliban and the ANA.

Yes, that seems to happen surprisingly often with nations "liberated" by the US, doesn't it? They have a disturbing tendency to collapse into civil war.

Gosh, it's almost as if there was something wrong with US foreign policy towards authoritarian governments...

[Kazarogkai]

back in the 80's when we assisted the freedom fighters in Afghanistan against the USSR.

Afghanistan before "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Afghanistan after "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

To be fair that only really applied in the capitol and a few other urban areas where the governments hold was strong, outside of those areas(especially in rural zones) where the majority of the population lived this didn't apply at all.

[The balkens]

Its not like Afghanistan fell into civil war between the Taliban and the ANA.

Yes, that seems to happen surprisingly often with nations "liberated" by the US, doesn't it? They have a disturbing tendency to collapse into civil war.

Gosh, it's almost as if there was something wrong with US foreign policy towards authoritarian governments...

Maybe if some people werent authoritarian asswipes with a power fetish?

I mean look at Romania and whatshisdick.

[New Werpland]

back in the 80's when we assisted the freedom fighters in Afghanistan against the USSR.

Afghanistan before "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Afghanistan after "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Woah it looks fine, they had some neat buses, I wonder why the Soviets had to invade?

[Constantinopolis]

Maybe if some people werent authoritarian asswipes with a power fetish?

I mean look at Romania and whatshisdick.

"This guy sucks. Let's overthrow him because he sucks. I'm sure the country will sort itself out afterwards." - that is the kind of thinking that has led the US to create so many failed states and spark so many pointless civil wars around the world.

[The balkens]

Afghanistan before "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Afghanistan after "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Woah it looks fine, they had some neat buses, I wonder why the Soviets had to invade?

The Russian man's burden.

[Constantinopolis]

Woah it looks fine, they had some neat buses, I wonder why the Soviets had to invade?

There was an internal power struggle within Afghanistan and one faction requested Soviet assistance against the other faction.

Not wishing to alienate a potential ally or look weak by failing to support a political faction that requested their help, the Soviets sent troops. A bad idea in retrospect, but it seemed like the right move at the time.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Afghanistan before "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

(Image)

Afghanistan after "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

(Image)

Woah it looks fine, they had some neat buses, I wonder why the Soviets had to invade?

If I remember right, it involved one Soviet-inspired and later a Soviet-instigated coup and the ensuing civil war(s) resulted in a shitty situation for their beloved installed dictator because of mass opposition to said dictator due to his attempted 'modernization' efforts (oft enforced via mass execution and/or incarceration) being opposed by the pastoral tribesmen of the various populations living outside the urban areas of the country.
...
Which is impressively ironic, considering other attempted points brought up in this thread on that topic. Like this one:

"This guy sucks. Let's overthrow him because he sucks. I'm sure the country will sort itself out afterwards." - that is the kind of thinking that has led the US to create so many failed states and spark so many pointless civil wars around the world.

[The balkens]

Woah it looks fine, they had some neat buses, I wonder why the Soviets had to invade?

If I remember right, it involved one Soviet-inspired and later a Soviet-instigated coup and the ensuing civil war(s) resulted in a shitty situation for their beloved installed dictator because of mass opposition to said dictator due to his attempted 'modernization' efforts (oft enforced via mass execution and/or incarceration) being opposed by the pastoral tribesmen of the various populations living outside the urban areas of the country.
...
Which is impressively ironic, considering other attempted points brought up in this thread on that topic. Like this one:

"This guy sucks. Let's overthrow him because he sucks. I'm sure the country will sort itself out afterwards." - that is the kind of thinking that has led the US to create so many failed states and spark so many pointless civil wars around the world.

Irc, the US didnt cause the downfall of the USSR.

[Cartagine]

Afghanistan before "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Afghanistan after "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Woah it looks fine, they had some neat buses, I wonder why the Soviets had to invade?

The soviets never invaded Afghanistan, they came to the country on request of the Afghan government.

[The balkens]

Woah it looks fine, they had some neat buses, I wonder why the Soviets had to invade?

The soviets never invaded Afghanistan, they came to the country on request of the Afghan government.

By sending armed forces over the border.

IE, Invasion.

[Cartagine]

The soviets never invaded Afghanistan, they came to the country on request of the Afghan government.

By sending armed forces over the border.

IE, Invasion.

Nope, Russia intervened.
Yes there's a difference between the two, if the USSR would actually invade Afghanistan they would have done things quiet differently.

[Infected Mushroom]

Russia is trying to promote stability, predictability, and law and order in Syria by supporting the rightful government. I take no issue with this.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Woah it looks fine, they had some neat buses, I wonder why the Soviets had to invade?

The soviets never invaded Afghanistan, they came to the country on request of the Afghan government.

This technicality is so threadbare it's stupid.
The Soviets invaded Afghanistan to carry out a coup, and then the leaders the Soviets were okay with after the coup said they'd requested Soviet assistance.

[CTALNH]

Afghanistan before "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Afghanistan after "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Its not like Afghanistan fell into civil war between the Taliban and the ANA.

But what do i know? Im just a imperialist Capitalist! Therefor i suck the life out of nations like as if it were some shitty vampire Fanfic!

Because you do and thats capitalism at its finest?

[New Werpland]

Woah it looks fine, they had some neat buses, I wonder why the Soviets had to invade?

The soviets never invaded Afghanistan, they came to the country on request of the Afghan government.

And killing the president was part of that request.

[Uxupox]

By sending armed forces over the border.

IE, Invasion.

Nope, Russia intervened.
Yes there's a difference between the two, if the USSR would actually invade Afghanistan they would have done things quiet differently.

So uh Russia intervened in Georgia?

Its not like Afghanistan fell into civil war between the Taliban and the ANA.

But what do i know? Im just a imperialist Capitalist! Therefor i suck the life out of nations like as if it were some shitty vampire Fanfic!

Because you do and thats capitalism at its finest?

That's a mighty edge you got there friend.

[Nirvash Type TheEND]

back in the 80's when we assisted the freedom fighters in Afghanistan against the USSR.

Afghanistan before "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Afghanistan after "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Suddenly neocolonialism looks like a pretty swell answer, doesn't it?

[The balkens]

Afghanistan before "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Afghanistan after "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Suddenly neocolonialism looks like a pretty swell answer, doesn't it?

Silly Nirv, only russian imperialism works. *nods*

It didnt work then, wont work now in Syria.

[Cartagine]

The soviets never invaded Afghanistan, they came to the country on request of the Afghan government.

This technicality is so threadbare it's stupid.
The Soviets invaded Afghanistan to carry out a coup, and then the leaders the Soviets were okay with after the coup said they'd requested Soviet assistance.

Ofcourse, lets call every single foreign soldier on any soil an invasion...
Remember the US/NATO invasion of Eastern-Europe? http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/world/europe/us-poised-to-put-heavy-weaponry-in-east-europe.html?_r=0
Or the NATO invasion of Turkey? http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_92140.htm
Becouse ofcourse according to that logic of yours these sorts of things would also fall under invasions *nods*

Not saying taht the coup wasn't supported and acted out by Russians, just saying such things really don't count as an invasion in any form or shape.

[CTALNH]

Nope, Russia intervened.
Yes there's a difference between the two, if the USSR would actually invade Afghanistan they would have done things quiet differently.

So uh Russia intervened in Georgia?

Because you do and thats capitalism at its finest?

That's a mighty edge you got there friend.

Shit I cut my keyboard in two.

[The balkens]

This technicality is so threadbare it's stupid.
The Soviets invaded Afghanistan to carry out a coup, and then the leaders the Soviets were okay with after the coup said they'd requested Soviet assistance.

Ofcourse, lets call every single foreign soldier on any soil an invasion...
Remember the US/NATO invasion of Eastern-Europe? http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/world/europe/us-poised-to-put-heavy-weaponry-in-east-europe.html?_r=0
Or the NATO invasion of Turkey? http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_92140.htm
Becouse ofcourse according to that logic of yours these sorts of things would also fall under invasions *nods*

Not saying taht the coup wasn't supported and acted out by Russians, just saying such things really don't count as an invasion in any form or shape.

Are currently blowing shit up in turkey? or in E.E?

[Olerand]

back in the 80's when we assisted the freedom fighters in Afghanistan against the USSR.

Afghanistan before "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

Afghanistan after "freedom fighters" drove out the USSR:

I should have noticed the "freedom fighters" epithet in my response, but I unfortunately did not.

That there are people today still qualifying American aid to the Mujaheddin as aid to "freedom fighters" is glaring truth of how America's terrible foreign policy never learns.

[Novsvacro]

The FSA are marxist terrorists

Ha. I wish.

You must be confusing them with the Kurdish forces, the YPG (and their allies inside Turkey, the PKK). The YPG and PKK are indeed Marxist, but they have neither the strength not the desire to move beyond the majority-Kurdish areas of Syria, so Assad is still the only hope to stop ISIS and al-Nusra.

The PKK is not Marxist, to my knowledge.

[Cartagine]

Nope, Russia intervened.
Yes there's a difference between the two, if the USSR would actually invade Afghanistan they would have done things quiet differently.

So uh Russia intervened in Georgia?

They intervened in South Ossetia and Abkhazia following Georgian attacks on them. At the same time Russia invaded Georgia to put an end to the military agression of Georgia.