Thirty-four years ago today, the Soviet army began its withdrawal from Afghanistan after a long war with U.S.-supported mujahideen fighters which began in 1979. The Soviet Union's war in Afghanistan is widely seen as one of the major catalysts for the collapse of the Soviet regime. Afghanistan is often referred to as the "graveyard of empires" for it's historic resistance to outside influences and imperial designs. The withdrawal of the Soviet forces was completed in February, 1989, but not without skirmishes and ambushes during the period of withdrawal. Soviet General Boris Gromov was the last Russian soldier to leave Afghanistan over the "Friendship Bridge," and was heard to criticize the Soviet Union's leadership as "those who start wars while others have to clean up the mess."
Russia's current autocrat, thug and war criminal Vladimir Putin, may want to take note of Gromov's words as he pursues his brutal war against Ukraine and leaves a humanitarian and strategic mess for others to clean up.
(photo: Soviet armored vehicles leaving Afghanistan. Soviet Army photo)
