[War and Management] The Empire's Tomb

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Afghanistan, a Middle Eastern country, is often referred to as the "Graveyard of Empires." This is because no great power that has invaded Afghanistan has ever succeeded. From the Mongol armies in the 13th century to the United States, which has yet to end its war since the September 11 attacks in 2001, many powerful empires throughout history have been bogged down in Afghanistan. In the case of the former Soviet Union, the financial burden of the decade-long Afghan war was a significant factor contributing to the collapse of its regime.

Among the empires that invaded Afghanistan, none had weaker military power than Afghanistan. However, all empires failed in their Afghan expeditions because there was no way to force a complete surrender. When U.S. troops first drove out the Taliban and reached Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, in 2001, the Afghan people welcomed them, but now they have all turned against the United States. To effectively attack the Taliban, who continue guerrilla warfare while hiding in rugged terrain, large-scale airstrikes using fighter jets and drones were carried out, resulting in significant civilian casualties. Consequently, the Afghan people turned their support from the U.S. military to the Taliban.

The 13th-century Mongol armies, 19th-century British forces, and 20th-century Soviet troops all faced the same dilemma as the U.S. To end the war by forcing a complete surrender, hundreds of thousands of troops would have to be permanently stationed. However, for such a large force to be stationed, military bases, roads, and logistics must be established, requiring astronomical war expenses. It was impossible to bear these costs, and it was also unthinkable to massacre the entire civilian population of 60 million. As a result, wars that were expected to end within months often dragged on, and when the war expenses became unsustainable, withdrawal was inevitable. After withdrawal, the previous powers would regain control, repeating a vicious cycle.

Like Afghanistan, Iran, whose territory is mostly mountainous and plateau regions, has remained unconquered by Western powers since the 19th century due to the same dilemma. It is uncertain whether the United States, which struggled even in Afghanistan with a population of 60 million, can conduct an effective full-scale war in Iran, which has a population of 80 million. Following Afghanistan, the world is holding its breath, watching the confrontation between the U.S. and Iran to see if Iran will become the new "Graveyard of Empires."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.