I think you may be being a bit optimistic there. I'm not convinced that there can be any sort of functioning modern state in that shithole until they get rid of the tribal mentality, and that takes generations.
Tribe identity is human nature, you'll never get rid of it, you'll at best just change the nature of the "tribe"
Hmm perhaps I should have phrased it better. The tribal identity needs to morph into a national identity, or at least have the national identity take a significantly higher level of importance.
Why are the seals always shocked? They can be shocked about almost anything
Possibly...but I tend to think that Afghans will always revert to being Afghans. For reference, read about what happened at the Khyber Pass.
They're worse than the Redditors? That's honestly hard to believe. Funny thing is that the Western media was obsessed with "Ukraine's neo-Nazi problem" until the very day of the "special military operation."
The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was doing that over time. Nur Muhammaed Taraki was too radical with his various reforms, but pulled back when he realised the reforms were over-hasty (yet continued his purged of the Parchamite faction relentlessly), while Hafizullah Amin, who removed him to carefully expressed Soviet displeasure, threw caution to the wind, resulting in an effusion of blood and a near collapse of the state. The Soviet installed government restored a sense of balance (at great cost later thanks to the Gipper and friends), and finally with Najibullah was a steady and cautious tempo of reform found. It's much different from the present, but I see the present Russian Army as lacking the extensive skill set of the 40th Army and KGB. Maybe. Anyhow the US and allies showed how not to do it.
Yes, tribal government can perhaps have its uses for the unambitious ruler, unambitious except for keeping power. Afghanistan historically seemed a place where the simple people had inherent martial talents, but above the local level any British or American adventurer who knew the limits of where he was, could be anything he wanted to be, from some eastern seaboard chemist to eastern potentate or advisor living in degenerate luxury. Breaking out of it needs centuries or rulers who are cunning, cautious, but also disrespectful and brutal where needed. I think the rulers of the Democratic Republic unlocked part of it, but the monarchy in its last years also came close, but succumbed to its leftist intelligentsia. It's endlessly fascinating.
I still think it would have been optimistic for it to last. There's just something about that shithole that drives people crazy. Ah well, it's still a fun "what could have been".
Fortunately for Russia, in the case of the T90, a trained T72 crew wouldn't have trouble switching over to one. It's literally just a T-72 upgrade that got a name change for marketing purposes. Post war I suspect we'll be seeing lots of their stored T72s pulled out and overhauled to replace losses.
Only that moron would see "overestimating aspects of russias military" as a vast conspiracy. Literally every country on earth puffs up their military, some just do it more than others. Also for all the Russian militaries flaws, it's big and has a fuckload of gear, so it's entirely reasonable to think they have significant power.
