Reply #130: Thanks, but...

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

1) They invaded to prop up a puppet regime (the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan) which the local populace was resisting. We invaded to root out and destroy an international terrorist organization.

2) The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was in power before the Soviet invasion. In all actuality, it was the DRA who invited the Soviet army into the country. If you don't believe me, check the timeline.

3) There may be some room for comparison on the issue of women's "liberation" (was anyone really "liberated" under the Soviets?), but I would argue this is only a small part of the complaints made against the Soviet Union and the DRA. Of much greater concern were perceived attacks on their ability to worship as they pleased, choose their own leaders at the tribal level, etc.

4) Right, but how did they do so and who was backing them? Had the mujahideen not received Western backing, thus the ability to blast Russian helicopters out of the sky, they would have continued to be obliterated. Western support was the turning point that made them a formidible force. So where's the comparison to today? This is where specifics are important.

5) Are we really attempting to "civilize" their culture? No one is forcing young women to attend school, for instance. All that we've done is opened the door for those who wish to seize that opportunity.