Who Wanted a Soviet Vietnam in the Middle East?

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
1

I’ve been reading Bruce Riedel’s book: “What We Won: America’s Secret War in Afghanistan 1979-1989” about the CIA’s efforts in fighting the Soviets by supporting the Mujahideen through the Pakistani ISI.

I think the situation kinds of parallels what we are in currently, with diminished US reliance on Middle Eastern energy markets and increased Chinese and Asian reliance on them. This leaves the Middle Eastern countries with a bit of a quagmire as they are essentially going to have to build some new relationships to keep their revenue up.

Can anyone comment on why the Middle Eastern countries would have wanted a Soviet Vietnam during the Cold War?

2

I really don’t know, but I think arab socialism was funded by the Soviet Union.

E: in the sense that I have no references, just common knowledge.

3

[quote]theuofh wrote:
I’ve been reading Bruce Riedel’s book: “What We Won: America’s Secret War in Afghanistan 1979-1989” about the CIA’s efforts in fighting the Soviets by supporting the Mujahideen through the Pakistani ISI.

I think the situation kinds of parallels what we are in currently, with diminished US reliance on Middle Eastern energy markets and increased Chinese and Asian reliance on them. This leaves the Middle Eastern countries with a bit of a quagmire as they are essentially going to have to build some new relationships to keep their revenue up.

Can anyone comment on why the Middle Eastern countries would have wanted a Soviet Vietnam during the Cold War? [/quote]

One would think the Middle Eastern Countries didn’t want a Soviet Vietnam. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan and the object of the US and CIA was to drive them out. If anything, it was our government which wanted a Soviet Vietnam. It was just branded in terms of a Holy War and the Middle East supplied the Holy warriors and the cash.

4

What do you mean? I don’t understand what you’re asking. Please elaborate.

5

If you’re asking why the pro-Soviet Afghans were on South Vietnam’s side in the Vietnam War it was because of the Sino-Soviet split.

6

I thought he was talking “Soviet Vietnam” meaning the Soviet version of Vietnam, being embroiled in an un-winnable guerrilla war in a 3rd world nation, though I could be wrong.

SexMachine is right, what’s the question?

7

[quote]Gkhan wrote:
I thought he was talking “Soviet Vietnam” meaning the Soviet version of Vietnam, being embroiled in an un-winnable guerrilla war in a 3rd world nation, though I could be wrong.

[/quote]

Yeah that’s what I thought he meant too, but it doesn’t make sense. Who wants a protracted unwinnable war? Obviously no one would. People don’t think, wouldn’t it be great to get bogged down in a war we can’t win do they?

8

Sorry for the confusion. Let me rephrase: What countries in the Middle East would have benefited from the Soviet Union controlling Vietnam and why?

9

Sino-Soviet split, got it. Thanks, that’s what I was looking for,

10

[quote]theuofh wrote:
Sino-Soviet split, got it. Thanks, that’s what I was looking for, [/quote]

Yep. Proxy wars create strange bedfellows. The Chinese backed the Mujahideen.