www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/09/18/ret.russia.afghanwar -> www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/09/18/ret.russia.afghanwar/
Soviet Union's Afghan lessons Leo Korolkov says modern weapons against the Afghans are Leo Korolkov says modern weapons against the Afghans are "useless" MOSCOW, Russia -- Veterans of the Soviet Union's Afghan war in the 1980s know the perils of waging a war in Afghanistan. Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, the British, and finally the Soviet Union all sent their armies into Afghanistan, only to be beaten back. Soviet forces fought a war against the Mujahadeen that lasted over 10 years in terrain which many veterans say rendered the inhospitable country a virtual fortress. The war, which began when Soviet forces invaded in 1979, claimed nearly a million Afghan lives and 15,000 Russian troops, with a further 50,000 wounded. COM SPECIAL REPORT CNN NewsPass Video 37 Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998 MORE STORIES 38 Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects 39 Report cites warnings before 9/11 EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: 40 Who Knew What and When? Interactive: 41 Terror Investigation 42 Terror Warnings System 43 Most wanted terrorists 44 What looks suspicious? In-Depth: 45 America Remembers In-Depth: 46 Terror on Tape In-Depth: 47 How prepared is your city? RESOURCES On the Scene: 48 Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? Delta Force and British SAS, told CNN's Jill Dougherty: "Modern weapons, rockets, laser-guided missiles -- they're useless against these mountains. In their protracted war with the Mujahadeen, the Soviet forces faced guerrilla tactics, including ambushes and suicide attacks. Korolkov says he saw critically wounded Afghan fighters still clutching their weapons and firing until their last breath. Many of them, he says, used drugs before launching operations. He says they were the most effective force he has ever faced, honed on 20 years of continual war. Garnett told CNN: "The British had terrible experiences in that part of the world in the 19th Century and the Russians have had awful experiences not so long ago. Soviet soldiers deployed in rugged Afghan highlands in 1988 Soviet soldiers deployed in rugged Afghan highlands in 1988 "I don't think you can just bomb the Afghan people into the ground. I think the more focused the American response is, on actually getting (Osama) bin Laden and terrorists organisations, the better. Find 57 Back to the top 2003 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
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