(In Afghanistan, anche nei più "insospettabili" ambienti islamisti, di fronte allo sfascio del regime coloniale di oggi cresce la nostalgia per i tempi della occupazione sovietica...)
GOLDEN TIMES
... When I visit Afghanistan now, I do so freely, without concealing the fact I’m Russian, and I associate with our former enemies. And do you know what they tell me?
“The best president for us would be Dr Najibullah. And your best president was Brezhnev.” That’s what former guerrillas say. I can’t believe my ears.
... They give you a lecture on the fact that they were the unwitting tools of the Americans, who had treacherously lured the Soviets into the country. They tell you the USSR left them with roads, tunnels, factories, colleges, farms, hydro-electric power stations and housing estates, and that the Soviets left almost the whole Afghan economy intact. And what help did the Americans give? Nothing.
... Memories of tunnels we built, flour and kerosene, free study in the USSR, our beautiful girls and our generous hospitality all remain, warming hearts and nourishing dreams. Of course, it’s not Brezhnev they idolise, but that former life, which now seems completely happy. They’re not dreaming of Communism, but they want to play a real part in their own destiny - the way the Soviet Union once allowed them to. This is a very important point when it comes to understanding the Afghan situation...
“The best president for us would be Dr Najibullah. And your best president was Brezhnev.” That’s what former guerrillas say. I can’t believe my ears.
... They give you a lecture on the fact that they were the unwitting tools of the Americans, who had treacherously lured the Soviets into the country. They tell you the USSR left them with roads, tunnels, factories, colleges, farms, hydro-electric power stations and housing estates, and that the Soviets left almost the whole Afghan economy intact. And what help did the Americans give? Nothing.
... Memories of tunnels we built, flour and kerosene, free study in the USSR, our beautiful girls and our generous hospitality all remain, warming hearts and nourishing dreams. Of course, it’s not Brezhnev they idolise, but that former life, which now seems completely happy. They’re not dreaming of Communism, but they want to play a real part in their own destiny - the way the Soviet Union once allowed them to. This is a very important point when it comes to understanding the Afghan situation...
(Vladimir Snegiryov, Russia Now Dossier - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/russianow/6094700/Lessons-from-the-Soviet-Unions-war-in-Afghanistan---Russia-Now.html )