This author is ignorant. The Mujahideen kicked the crap out of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in a war the Soviets could not win even with all their modern technology and weapons. The Soviets fought for over ten years but eventually gave up. The Mujahideen accomplished this largely with half century old British bolt action rifles, while the Russians had jets, high tech helicopters, night vision and by comparison, unlimited money.
And here I am thinking it was the shoulder-fired AA missiles the CIA provided the mujis that proved to be the tipping point against Ivan.