Would we have terrorist problem if Russians had won in Afghanistan in the 80s?

Question

Someone posted this on another board, and while I am no fan of the Soviets or communism, it makes a kind of perverse sense:
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If the Russians were victorious in Afghanistan:

Bin Laden would have either killed, captured or left a beaten man without any fanfare or sense of invincibility ;
The Muslim world would have been defeated by an atheist power that challenges every premise they hold sacred.
Women would have been allowed to be educated in Afghanistan.
The Poppy Fields would have been destroyed.
We wouldn't be in the mess we're in today.
Maybe the "Evil Empire" wasn't so evil (at least compared to what we face today)
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The guy who posted that left out one little historical asterisk though: Jimmy Carter's national security advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski said we were funding the mujahideen to harass the Soviet-backed government BEFORE the Soviets invaded to make it necessary for them to intervene to prop up their ally.

bin Laden was in Afghanistan.

There was a native resistence movement, but foreign Muslims were also recruited to fight, and Saudis like bin Laden were the nucleus and financiers of that part.

Answer 1

All in all, sometimes I miss the cold war.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Unfortunately the author of this piece is woefully devoid of an understanding of history, Islam, Communism or the basic facts of the matter.

Bin laden was not the mujahideen. He was one of several front leaders and did as much damage to the Afghan people and country as the Soviets. He did not achieve his current stature from his role in the Afghan War. Rather, it is the result of his financial patronage of the Taliban government, various Sudanese and Somali warlords, opposition to the Saudi government and Wahabist sentiments. The attacks on 9/11 elevated him further for it proved that even the powerful USA was venerable if they were just patient enough.

It would have been a defeat for more than just the Muslim world. And that statement is itself rather grandiose. All that would have happened would have been the further expansion of the Communist menace in Asia.

Perhaps the author is unaware of the fact that the Soviets have never been opposed to the Asian drug trade. In fact the Soviets made considerable use of quiet deals with Iranians and Afghanis for their poppy harvests.

The problem we face with Islam today is not related to a single incident in world history unless you count the birth of Mohammed himself. It is not because the US supported certain Afghan fighters, or because the US supports Israel, or because the US supports Saudi Arabia, or because the US supported the former Shah of Iran, etcetera, etcetera. It is because the people leading these movements now have access to tools that they formerly were denied: capital, communications and freedom of movement and assembly. All of which are generously and foolishly made available by naive Western governments. These people have been singing these songs for years but now they have the means to bring their wishes to fruition.

This piece appears to have been written by one of the many apologists for Communism. In fact, it closely resembles a few pieces which have appeared over the years in the pages of Communist periodicals and journals.

Answer 4

Probably not as bad of a problem that we have today, but we would still have a problem due to our blind support of Israel.

But hey, think of it this way, the only reason they were able to kick the Soviets out was because the CIA headed by Bush Sr was training and funding the Mujahideen (Bin Ladin and his band of guerrillas).

We created Frankenstein's monster and it turned on us.

Answer 5

Probably the current terrorist problem would be more directed at Russia. They already have a problem, but it would be even greater.

And no doubt the US gov't would be just fine with that, blaming Russia for the problem.

Answer 6

This is actually a very good question.
I don't know the answer, but it is fascinating to contemplate.

But, Bin Laden was not in Afghanistan at the time. He was in his home in Saudi Arabia.

Answer 7

If we stay out of WW 2 they wouldn't be bad mouthing us to day Every thing is a trade off

Answer 8

the terrorists would have found another home to train in. sudan for one which harbored bin laden for years who offered him to clinton on a silver platter. or iraq which they did as well under sadamn and still do. or iran which they still do. or lebanon which they still do. or syria which they still do. or sri lanka which they still do. or chechnya which they still do etc.....should i go on? lefty propaganda as usual.

Answer 9

No they would have a terrorist problem.

Answer 10

I can dig it.