[CapricornNoble]

>>>Also, the USSR was invited by the Afghanistan government to contain a rebellion, it wasn't an aggressive (imperialist) invasion.

Another way to articulate that moment in history: "the USSR was disappointed with the main strongman in their puppet regime so they sent their best operators to murder him in the night".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Storm-333

[l332mn]

Afghanistan and the USSR were on good terms, and had signed a treaty which included military assistance. The USSR was called upon to assist Afghanistan to contain uprisings. However, only after the Soviet-friendly leader of Afghanistan was assassinated by his own party members, did they intervene.