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Canada takes notes from failed Soviet war
"The main reasons behind the fall of the pro-Moscow regime in Kabul were not defeat on the battlefield nor military superiority of the resistance but the regime's failure to achieve economic sustainability and its overreliance on foreign aid," says a document called Economic Development in Afghanistan during the Soviet Period 1979-1989: Lessons Learned from the Soviet Experience in Afghanistan.In fact, it says, the Soviets focused too much on security. "The emphasis on the security situation in Afghanistan compromised sound economic development during the period 1979-1989 ... The Afghan economy continued to be overly dependent on foreign aid. The study argues that without breaking this dependency, no long-term solution to stabilize Afghanistan is possible." The authors say Afghanistan should redevelop its petroleum wealth as part of the solution. "Revenues from the sale of natural gas were a substantial part of Afghan state income until 1986. The development of oil and natural gas industries has great potential to benefit the Afghan economy." Other lessons Defence researchers gleaned from the Soviet period include: -- "Successive battlefield victories do not guarantee strategic success." -- "Engaging and enfranchising local populations and power centres is of critical importance." -- "Building Afghan security forces is vital." Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-07-12 |
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