Russia Takes a Look at Afghanistan

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization conference on Afghanistan, which starts on Friday in Moscow, marks an important stage in the SCO's development -- particularly, in its role as a mediator for solving regional problems.

According to U.S. intelligence, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were organized by the Taliban from their bases in Afghanistan. Washington enlisted the support of its NATO allies and a few other countries and quickly occupied Afghanistan, destroying its main terrorist bases. That type of swift, heavy response was understandable, but Washington's underestimation of the complexity of Afghanistan's internal situation, its history and particularly the poor track record of previous attempts to force a regime on the Afghan people had disastrous consequences for all sides.