Reply #306: We supported the opposition

[BlueDemKev]

Yes, I remember when liberals were scoffed at back in the 1980's were warning that the rebels fighting against the USSR could very well turn that country into another Iran. However, you have to remember that the rebels who fought against the Soviets included many more groups than just the Taliban: the Northern Alliance, for example. America's focus in the '80s was simply stopping the Soviets without thought to anything else--very irresponsible, IMO. After the Soviets left Afghanistan in the late '80s, these rebel factions began fighting with each other (as different Muslim groups often do), until 1996 when the Taliban gained control of 90% of the country.