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Comment by hitpointdrew | Hacker News Reader

Jesus Christ, so sad to see. I can't help but imagine what a wonderful place Afghanistan could have been had the Soviet backed 1978 coup been a failure. https://allthatsinteresting.com/1960s-afghanistan

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Interestingly, there was talk after the American invasion of re-instating the (then-still living) former king of Afghanistan who ruled the country from 1933 to 1973 when he was overthrown in favor of a democracy. It's impossible to say if such a counterfactual could have possibly courted more legitimacy for the current government (thus bleeding Taliban support from the population), but it does make you wonder.

The women of Afghanistan yearn to be ruled by a hereditary king. Think of how much legitimacy he has.

same as how Iran could be without US backed coup. All superpowers are bad for this world. But still, the world is still suffering from the mess last empire made.

I don't know what to think for Afghanistan, a government without ability to maintain stability is not useful, and Taliban is a bit backward, and I don't know if we can expect them to change when they take full control of the country. With modern weapons, something like a revolution would be impossible to happen in any country, AND a government not through revolution really does not last.

This may be pedantic but there are success stories for installed govts. Although Japan is the only one I can think of off the top of my head.

The installed governments of aggressors who lost. Germany certainly didn't do too badly.

True. Japan was a successful western country before anyway. It was a united country, adapted western political system, even had a few colonies, it was a modern country. After the war, it kept its king, and Eisenhower really took the interests of Japan to his heart, the government was essentially the same with a different agenda. Normally the installed governments would work towards the interests of its patrons, not working for its people, that's when it starts to fail. I don't think Taliban would work for Afghanistan for the same reason, if they work for the benefit of their religion, not the benefit of their people, they will not succeed.

Interesting that the article linked talks about “Pakistani-funded mujahideen rebels” who became the Taliban. Turns out there were some other countries involved in that funding… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Cyclone

> I can't help but imagine what a wonderful place Afghanistan could have been had the Soviet backed 1978 coup been a failure.

Or if it had been an instant success, instead of the US pouring cash and arms in to keep the conflict going as long and destructively as possible. The Soviets didn't have a choice but to participate in a conflict on their border.

well, the united states didn't have to fight the cold war. the idea that, because a leftwing revolution happens somewhere, the united states has to pour money and arms into a counter revolution is insane. even if it was a soviet vacked revolution: we did not have to be at war with the soviet union.

Baghdad, centuries ago, had better medical policies than the United States does in 2021.

Unfortunately, the mongols came and burnt everything to the ground/left the city a literal pool of blood.

Makes for good reading in the 21st century I guess.

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