To me it seems the problem with Afghanistan in particular was the definition of winning.
Creating a self sustaining Democracy? Hell no crazy that was ever the goal.
But completely obliterating terrorists threats, without worrying about damage or creating a self governed country? i think that could have been achieved. Though at pretty big humanitarian consequences.
Which it seems like Russia doesn't care much about since the first definition of winning seems to have failed already.
They were still trying to install a regime against the people's will.
And the Soviet army at that time (which judging by ukraine was maybe better than Russia now despite worse tech?) doesn't even come close to the unimaginably grossly powerful weapons & military we have in the US (just using colorful language, my personal belief is on the whole beneficial even though causes plenty of pain and suffering).
Creating a self sustaining Democracy? Hell no crazy that was ever the goal.
But completely obliterating terrorists threats, without worrying about damage or creating a self governed country? i think that could have been achieved. Though at pretty big humanitarian consequences.
Which it seems like Russia doesn't care much about since the first definition of winning seems to have failed already.