How big an imperial burden is Afghanistan to the Soviets? The quick answer is: considerable, but nothing like what it could be if the West provided the Afghan resistance with the necessary hardware (and software, including clothes suitable for winter fighting in the mountains.)
In the manner of imperial powers, the Soviets had hoped that the regular Afghan forces would take on the job of crushing the “rebels.” (Strange, by the way, that so many media commentators use the slightly opprobrious term “rebels,” instead of the more appropriate “resistance” or “freedom fighters.”)
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