hmmm... deja vu all over again

From far-flung correspondent & loyal reader fpm:

A (Soviet) Soldier’s Guide to AfghanistanWhen in Afghanistan, you’ll need to follow a few basic rules: Be sensitive to local customs. Don’t swim or sunbathe near local villages. And never, ever intrude on the women’s quarters of an Afghan household.

Advice for NATO troops in Helmand Province? No, these handy tips are part of a list of do’s and dont’s for Soviet soldiers fulfilling their international socialist duty to Afghanistan in the 1980s. Courtesy of the Russian Navy Blog, we have a marvelous translation of a 1987 handbook prepared for the “internationalist warriors” serving there.
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"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."