That policy worked SO WELL after we no longer needed the Afghans to serve as a thorn in the side of the Soviets, after all....
We didn't pulverize the Afghans. They were our "allies".
We DID pulverize the Iraqis. The response was remarkable.
The Iranians stopped talking about the Great White Satan and Khadaffy came clean about his weapons program. Everybody was afraid the second shoe was going to fall.
It should have.