Originally Posted by
NutLoose
That was never going to happen, the USA do not build the MI-8, so we’re never going to buy someone else’s product and not support their homegrown industries.
Exactly, it's just another example of how conflicting objectives and strategic myopia in western capitals hamstrung the campaign right from the start. Principle of war #1: selection and maintenance of the aim. If the US was serious about winning in Afghanistan, it would've held its nose and struck a deal for some Hips.