The determined Ukrainian resistance to Putin’s bid to occupy their country contrasts with the embarrassing collapse of US-trained military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the month before the Russian invasion and during the first two weeks of the war, Pentagon experts doubted that the Ukrainians could resist and successfully defend their country against the Russian invaders. They had their escape from Afghanistan in mind. They grossly overestimated the Russian troops and underestimated the Ukrainians.
The Ukrainian army’s willingness to fight and its ability to inflict heavy casualties on the vastly superior Russian forces came as a surprise. It should however be easy to understand, the Ukrainians are fighting to defend their homeland, their nation whereas in Afghanistan, those who fought for the United States and NATO were considered traitors and sellouts. This is currently the case with Russian-speaking Ukrainians who support Putin.
The Taliban took Kabul unopposed. Trained for 20 years by the Americans and NATO, the Afghan troops disintegrated in a few days. The Afghan president had already taken to their heels to take refuge in the United Arab Emirates. Obviously, Putin and his generals thought that is what President Zelensky would do.
The Pentagon, CIA and other so-called “intelligence” agencies of the United States have yet again failed to consider crucial elements of this war.
The strength with which a nation defends itself depends above all on its morale, its leadership and the motivation of its soldiers. The fact that the opponent is an invader adds to his determination.
Hubris, from Washington to Moscow
“Mission accomplished” proclaimed George W. Bush in May 2003 about Iraq. Nineteen years later, the US military is still engaged in military operations in Iraq and the Middle East is destabilized for decades to come. Like Bush, Vladimir Putin was sure to win easily and quickly in Ukraine.
I’hubris (Where hubris) explains the inability of civilian and military leaders of dominant countries to properly assess their adversary.
The Greek word hubris denotes the conduct of rulers who act excessively out of pride. This excessive self-confidence leads to making bad decisions that often turn out to be catastrophic.
The arrogance engendered by the excess of power. What better description of Vladimir Putin?
Refugees: Ukrainians and others
The exodus of Ukrainian refugees shows how different the West’s response is compared to refugees fleeing violence in non-European countries, such as Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya and Syria. African and Arab refugees who want to leave Ukraine also complain of racism and mistreatment.
Many Afghans serving the US occupation forces who wanted to seek refuge in the United States for “urgent humanitarian reasons” are still awaiting a response or have had their applications denied. Biden has just announced that the United States will welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. The European Union is acting in the same direction.
The Afghans are shocked by the outpouring of solidarity and support they have never enjoyed like other non-European victims of conflict in recent decades.
The Afghans have paid dearly for the American intervention in their country: approximately one million civilian deaths and millions of refugees in Pakistan, Iran and other neighboring countries.