RENEE MONTAGNE, host: And in Afghanistan today, a milestone. The U.S.-led coalition has been fighting there for as long as the Soviet Union did - nine years and 50 days. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to prop up a communist government. It expected that the war would be over quickly, as did the U.S. when coalition troops arrived in 2001. Now, America's stay in that country will outlast the Soviets. Last week President Obama said that the American combat role in Afghanistan will continue until 2014, and possibly beyond.
The U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan, as of Friday, has been fighting there for as long as the Soviets did in their attempt to build up a socialist state. The Soviet campaign lasted nine years and 50 days.