We as a country have gotten involved at times we maybe should not have. Its hard to say with full assurance not having the entire picture, nonetheless if results are the judge of a right or wrong time to intervene we have been wrong more often than not. below are some articles on today's subject.

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/us/politics/11wilson.html

https://twu.edu/twhf/honorees/joanne-herring/

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-to-withdraw-from-afghanistan

https://www.nytimes.com/1979/12/29/archives/soviet-says-afghans-asked-for-its-help-charges-provocations-of.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/18/world/arming-afghan-guerrillas-a-huge-effort-led-by-us.html