The Russian are pulling out of Syria after in a few months have destroyed the terrorist and brought about peace talks. The world needs to look seriously at how to deal with problems and not make it something you need to be involved forever with military.
However, the Russians occupied Afghanistan for TEN years, finally realizing their folly, then "pulled out". They achieved NOTHING of value while there, except, perhaps to purvey the need for the U.S. to ALSO intervene there. We, then, intervened. We are still intervened in Afghanistan. Will always be intervened, like South Korea, Viet Nam, Cambodia, German bases, Marianas, Japan, Samoa, Iraq, Egypt, and god knows which others that CIA keeps secret. One would think lessons learned about the Afghanis would educate: they WILL NOT LOSE, no matter what. So, given they have all perished in the attempt to keep invaders out, what will the VICTORS have? Big, high, beautiful mountains, lush opium filled valleys, and close access to India and Pakistan? What the hell makes all that worth it? Frank