What is the difference between the insurgents in Iraq and the "freedom fighters" in Afghanistan during the

Question

..Soviet occupation???
Thank you kindly

Answer 1

none, ok, none. History repeats itself, so lets just move on

Answer 2

Well, at that time the Soviets weren't working toward Democracy and freedoms that we were hoping would take root in the area. Later the Taliban took over and many freedoms were taken away. You could go to jail if your beard wasn't long enough because the Gov't was a religious gov't who mandated religious law even if it wasn't your religion. Afganistan started to let Bin Laden and his group to stay and train there where the attcks against the U.S. were plotted and HQ'd.
In Iraq, the insurgents represent three groups or more. Sunnis (not all of them) who want their special preferences back. Shiites who now target the Sunnis plus some radicals under the cleric Sadr. Who hates America as much as Bin Laden and Iran. And group(s) who are supported by two other governments so they can have a bigger foothold. Sadr was trying what the Ayatolla tried in the 70s and almost made it. His mistake was coming back too soon. He stands a good chance to be the religious leader there as he suggested a non-violent protest instead of trying to kill us and blow us up. Al Qaeda is trying very hard to make themselves look omnipotent and us impotent. They're all trying to make it look like it's all our fault so the majority of Iraq and America will want us out. It's working on the Democrat liberals... most of them anyway.
The main difference between the two is that one side wants the people to have freedom to choose their religion and pursuits while the other side wants to supress and dictate religious laws.

Answer 3

Easy answer.

The Afghans were fighting a foreign power who had invaded their country. The Soviets went there to control the country.

The U.S. went to Afghanistan to free them from the Taliban. Once the Taliban dictatorship was removed, the Afghans voted on a Constitution, and elected a new government. The U.S. did not draft their Constitution, nor did it hand pick their leaders. (that would have happened under the Soviets).

The insurgents are fighting against the legitimate, democratically elected government of Iraq. They want to destroy the government eight million Iraqis bravely risked their lives to vote into office. They want to replace democracy with another dictatorship.

A terrorist is someone who destroys, intimidates, and creates chaos in order to gain some political objective. An insurgent is someone who seeks to bring down the legitimately elected government of a country. That is what is happening in Iraq right now. The Iraqis elected their own leaders, and drafted each of their own laws without U.S. interference (and as proof of that, there are provisions for Islamic law, which we detest).

Answer 4

While it is true that one's perception no doubt clouds the definitions of certain groups, that is far too simple an answer.

The difference is that the Soviets were attempting to make Afghanistan a puppet government if not part of the Soviet Union. America, I still believe, would prefer Afghanistan be a self-governing country with a democratically elected leadership.

Answer 5

Virtually nothing, since many of the Iraq insurgents were recruited and trained by the very same "freedom fighter" veterans of the Afghanistan war.

Basically our perception of them and who they're fighting now has changed, that's about it.

Answer 6

Well, you already know the answer but I'll state it. When we supported the Afghan freedom fighters, they where our friends fighting the soviets, hence freedom fighters. Now they are fighting us, and they are insurgents :)

Answer 7

The "freedom fighters" in Afghanistan turned into Al Quada.

The insurgents in Iraq are citizens who want the US out of the country. Or terrorists if you are a Republican and dont know the difference.

Answer 8

No diffrence it just depends on whose side your on. All wars are waged for two reasons......religion and greed.

Answer 9

Very similar!