In critical respects, it is beginning to repeat its own mistakes, whether by creating or funding new local militias in Afghanistan, or by striving to come to terms with the Taliban. As with the covert war that the US waged in the 1980’s in Afghanistan against Soviet military intervention, so, too, have short-term interests driven US policy in the current overt war.
然而，引人注目的是美国竟然好了伤疤就忘了痛。在关键领域，美国开始重蹈覆辙了，比如在阿富汗组建或资助本土的武装组织、努力与塔利班达成协议等。20世纪80年代，出于短期的利益，美国在阿富汗发动了秘密战争，应对苏联的军事干预，但是在当前这场众人皆知的战争中，引导美国政策的还是短期的利益。