Afghans fear history will be repeated as western involvement ends 
Tuesday 02 Dec 2014

As the historian AJP Taylor remarked: “The central lesson of history is that we do not learn the central lessons of history.”

Alex Thomson's View

Remember the central lesson of Afghan history, that the country collapsed into violent disorder after the Soviet withdrawal?

Except it did not. That is the central myth of recent Afghan history.

The truth – and thus the bitter lesson for now – is that Afghanistan enjoyed three years of relative stability and prosperity after the Russian military convoys cranked up over the Salang Pass on their way home for good.
Afghans Fear History Will Be Repeated as Western Involvement Ends by Thavam Ratna