Review of "The Afghan Syndrome: The Soviet Union’s Vietnam," by Major General Oleg Sarin and Colonel Lev Dvoretsky

 Review of

The Afghan Syndrome: The Soviet Union’s Vietnam, by Major General Oleg Sarin and Colonel Lev Dvoretsky, ISBN 0891414207

Five out of five stars

 In American political circles, the phrase “Vietnam Syndrome” is used to refer to the political and social fallout from the American involvement in Vietnam. After growing increasingly unpopular, public outrage led to a pullout and recriminations. The often acrimonious discussions regarding the goals and consequences led to new political rules being put in place designed to curb the potential for future undeclared wars.

 On July 7, 1979, the Soviet Red Army invaded neighboring Afghanistan. While there were some conflicts in the years when the Russian Empire bordered Afghanistan, relations between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan were generally friendly. This policy dates to the years when Lenin was in power as he saw the social, economic and political advantages of good relations with Afghanistan.

 This book was written by two high-ranking Soviet military officers, and it begins with a history of Soviet-Afghan relations. This is followed by a history of the Afghan government and the internal forces for and against reform and modernization of the country. This tension led to open conflict between the factions, reaching the point where the Soviet leadership felt the need for military intervention.

The final sections describe the experiences of the Soviet forces in Afghanistan and how they became mired down in a seemingly unending conflict where opposing forces would appear suddenly, inflict casualties and then seemingly vanish with little trace. Eventually, the Soviet forces withdrew and a social consequence similar to what happened in America over the Vietnam War. Hence the title “Afghan Syndrome.”

 Written by two very high-level members of the Soviet military and quality writers, this book is an excellent rendition of the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan and how little was accomplished other than many deaths.  

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