tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8446351548038522890.post1088452375164308863..comments2024-03-28T16:15:19.319-04:00Comments on Saideman's Semi-Spew: Bad Analogies Lead to Bad OutcomesSteve Saidemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09881915512311951902noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8446351548038522890.post-39290974143424361512009-08-24T21:14:16.462-04:002009-08-24T21:14:16.462-04:00One of the key points is that people argue that NA...One of the key points is that people argue that NATO/US should keep the number of the troops on the ground low so as to avoid the Soviet experience. But having too few troops is precisely part of the problem. Bad analogy leads to bad policy.<br /><br />And there are other key differences:<br />--While there are complaints about collateral damage now, the use of force against civilians is of a completely different scale than before.<br />--Taliban as an alternative is much less legitimate than the forces arrayed against the Soviet Union since the Afghans have experienced the Taliban.<br /><br />I could go on, but the point is that learning the wrong lessons can be dangerous and self-destructive.<br /><br />What lessons should we learn from the Soviet experience, other than do not send troops to Afghanistan?Steve Saidemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881915512311951902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8446351548038522890.post-70046767215804319702009-08-24T20:15:49.777-04:002009-08-24T20:15:49.777-04:00And at what point does arguing "but we're...And at what point does arguing "but we're different" lead to failing to learn lessons of the past? Perhaps the only difference that matters between then and now is that a super power isn't acitively supporting the insurgency.Vladimirnoreply@blogger.com