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Global Geopolitics of the Middle East
The main purpose for the creation of the mujahedeen was to deal with the soviet problem in Afghanistan. The US was only interested in the elimination of the Soviet Union. It worked with the mujahedeen as well as Saudi Arabia and it was able to get the success it desired. The US considered the mujahedeen as partners and they trained and equipped them. This contrasts with the current treatment of the Syrian jihad. The US has recognized the error of its decisions because if left a trained and equipped army which later became the al Qaeda. It does not want any relations with the group and it is doing whatever it can to fight those who are supporting the jihad. The changes in perspective and motive reflect the differences between the two forms of jihad. The Afghanistan jihad was more interested in the collaboration with the American government to eliminate the chances of soviet influence. On the other hand, the Syrian jihad has turned to be more of an ideology factor, whereby there are calls for a greater Islamic nation.
Unlike the
situation in Afghanistan
whereby the US
was able to achieve its objectives, the Syrian situation is different
(Lundquist). There has been ongoing war, tensions, and conflict since the
Syrian uprising in 2011 and currently, there are no signs that the situation
will improve with American help. The US is making the same mistakes it
did in the 1980s by choosing to side with one side in the Syrian war. It has
already started training and equipping some fighting groups. Its failure to
realize the consequences of its actions resemble the experiences and events of
the 1980s. Similar to the situation in Afghanistan,
the US
has not managed to get any form of loyal followers among the Syrians.
Work Cited:
Lundquist, Lisa. “Analysis: Blowback from the Syrian Jihad has begun.” The Long War Journal. 4 June 2014. Web. 26 Aug. 2014