3. The Mujahideen: Allies in Afghanistan
In the 1980s, the U.S. made a strategic gamble by arming and training the Mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War. This support—aimed at undermining Soviet power—ultimately helped drive the Soviets out of Afghanistan. However, the policy had far-reaching repercussions, as many Mujahideen factions later evolved into extremist groups, including the Taliban. According to the History Channel, this controversial alliance stands as a classic case of short-term strategy producing long-term instability—a lesson in the unintended costs of proxy warfare.
