[dfwgator]

The question has to be asked, would Afghanistan had been better off today had the Soviets won, and the Islamic radicals wiped out?

Yes I am well aware that hindsight is 20/20.

[Trumpinator]

Afghanistan would be ruled by a former Soviet Assad like strong man and the natives would still be restless but maybe no al-Qaeda given sanctuary as allies like the Taliban did. It would probably resemble the rest of the 'Stans now.

Before my time but in the 60s Afghanistan was destination for tourists - for hippies into Buddhism and also for hippie druggies looking to get pure heroin.