A US Army Foreign Military Studies Office report on the Soviet war in Afghanistan. One of the more level-headed sound-biteless bits on this decade-long bloodbath I’ve seen.
Whatever else these lessons may show, the most fundamental of them is that no army, however sophisticated, well trained, materially rich, numerically overwhelming and ruthless, can succeed on the battlefield if it is not psychologically fit and motivated for the fight. The force, however destitute in material advantages and numbers, which can rely on the moral qualities of a strong faith, stubborn determination, individualism and unending patience will always be the winner. These may not be the optimum qualities always found in the armies of western democracies.
Something for the US to bear in mind, regardless of how we go about conducting our own war.
(Via Lake Effect)