Re: Putin's gambit

In article
<b73a757a-6464-41b1-bfef-5a9027901688@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>, vello
<vellokala@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> On May 11, 6:20=A0pm, hol...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 (Eugene Holman) wrote:
> > In article
<deletions>
> 
> Is fighting mountain people with 20th century weaponry much better
> activity?

It works if:
1. they are trapped in territory the borders of which you control;
2. they have cities and an infrastructure that you can destroy;
3. they have a relatively educated population with a sufficient number of
people who would not be dismissed as simple Quislings willing to negotiate
in good faith or collaborate with the stonger power.

The USSR got its butt kicked in Afghanistan, because only condition 3
applied. Russia has prevailed, for better or worse, in Chechnya because
all three conditions apply.

Regards,
Eugene Holman