Akkam’s Razor

I was reading about the flurry of US helicopter downings in Iraq, which echoes back to Afghanistan in an earlier time - namely the USSR occupation that preceeded the fall of the Soviet Union.  I conducted a quick search, looking for US justification from the CIA, stating that by providing Stinger (shoulder-launched) anti-air missles, killing as many as ten soldiers per chopper (currently, about 5.5% of US fatalities are due to helicopter crashes, with only 91 of 172 (2.9%) due to hostile-fire, as sourced from iCasualties), and taking one of the most effective of the Soviets weapons, the Mi-24 Hind Attack Helicopter, out of the theater, would demoralize the Soviets and defeat them in Afghanistan.  Instead, I found a tale that encompasses the CIA, the White Houses of Carter and Reagan, a Congressman, several nations, such as Pakistan, Italy, Israel, Saudi Arabia, among others, the Soviets, and the Afghan mujhahadeen.

Cuban leader Fidel Castro is in serious condition after complications following three failed operations on his large intestine for diverticulitis, the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported Monday. Does anyone other than hardcore rightwingers actually care?

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