Regarding my exchange with a reader (Feb. 17), this passage in the article stood out:
But for all the post-factum justifications, committing the Soviet Union to a direct military invasion in a non-crucial arena was an arbitrary decision, and was seen as such by many high-level Soviet apparatchiks - even when it was taken.
Despite geostrategic concerns within the Soviet Politburo - possible US interests in Afghanistan, Islamic militancy - the fateful decision to invade was made by an inner circle with a fair amount of subjectivity playing a role in their analyses.
In other words, just like their American counterparts, choices such as these are made with little consideration for costs and consequences.
