The thought may just be entering their minds, but some Americans are beginning to miss what Ronald Reagan called The Evil Empire.
They now realise that in the process of destroying the late lamented Soviet Union they unleashed a force far more sinister than their former enemy.
The USSR met its end in the quagmire of Afghanistan where its army was routed by a militia, aided and armed by the US. The Taliban drew inspiration and guidance from one Osama bin Laden.
While the American helpers have been summarily, and without even a proper thank you, sent home, Bin Laden continues to be their guide and mentor.
The Afghan war gave them the confidence and the know-how to take on a world power. Al-Qaida and their ilk are brainwashed bigots.
Unfortunately, the fervour and fanaticism of religious faith is stronger and will last longer than any commitment to an economic ideology or a political system.
Moreover, the Soviets played by the rules of the Cold War. They were predictable and identifiable. "Leaders of the Soviet Union did not have a death wish", says Glenn Beck, show host on CNN.
They were never suicidal. They valued their own lives, if not those of others. They knew how far to go, and when to draw back.
As the American I got talking to, as we waited for our flight to be announced at Chicago's O'Hare airport, said, "Imagine what the fate of the world would have been if, during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, instead of Nikita Khruschev, an Osama bin Laden or a Hasan Nasrullah was leading the other side".
The unregulated demise of the Soviet Union created havoc in its wake in several parts of Asia and Europe. The Soviets also knew how to keep their vassals and clients in check.
Americans one talks to feel that their current foe is beyond rational argument and has little respect for human life. It has no one centre of power.
Its units are autonomous and amorphous, not regulated by any central control, but guided by a common sentiment that gained strength because of Afghanistan.
Never strong on history, Americans are now learning its lessons the hard way.
Source - TOI Editorials
They now realise that in the process of destroying the late lamented Soviet Union they unleashed a force far more sinister than their former enemy.
The USSR met its end in the quagmire of Afghanistan where its army was routed by a militia, aided and armed by the US. The Taliban drew inspiration and guidance from one Osama bin Laden.
While the American helpers have been summarily, and without even a proper thank you, sent home, Bin Laden continues to be their guide and mentor.
The Afghan war gave them the confidence and the know-how to take on a world power. Al-Qaida and their ilk are brainwashed bigots.
Unfortunately, the fervour and fanaticism of religious faith is stronger and will last longer than any commitment to an economic ideology or a political system.
Moreover, the Soviets played by the rules of the Cold War. They were predictable and identifiable. "Leaders of the Soviet Union did not have a death wish", says Glenn Beck, show host on CNN.
They were never suicidal. They valued their own lives, if not those of others. They knew how far to go, and when to draw back.
As the American I got talking to, as we waited for our flight to be announced at Chicago's O'Hare airport, said, "Imagine what the fate of the world would have been if, during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, instead of Nikita Khruschev, an Osama bin Laden or a Hasan Nasrullah was leading the other side".
The unregulated demise of the Soviet Union created havoc in its wake in several parts of Asia and Europe. The Soviets also knew how to keep their vassals and clients in check.
Americans one talks to feel that their current foe is beyond rational argument and has little respect for human life. It has no one centre of power.
Its units are autonomous and amorphous, not regulated by any central control, but guided by a common sentiment that gained strength because of Afghanistan.
Never strong on history, Americans are now learning its lessons the hard way.
Source - TOI Editorials