OK - I knew Bin Laden was nuts

[PornoDoggy]

The defeat in Afghanistan probably played a bigger role in the collapse of the Soviet system than most Americans give it credit for, particularly after 20 years of Reagan-as-god propaganda.

And yes, America won the war Afghanistan - the same way we won the two world wars in Europe. We put up dollars and let somebody else do most of the dying. Unfortunately, we walked away after we won. When we walked away from Europe after the first world war, we got the second*; we stuck around after the second, and things have settled down.

The idea that "the infidels" can be driven to give up is central to the philosophy of the bid Laden style Islamic fundamentalists; they point to Afghanistan, Vietnam, and Reagan's tucking his tail between his legs in Beruit as examples.

* - Weak arguement, I know, based both on the final peace treaty and the nature of the Republican governments that followed Wilson - still, the arguement has been made with some merits.