What if Russia was the victim of September 11th Terrorist Attacks instead of the United States? I think the POD would require Dubya not winning the election of 2000. Part of Osama bin-Laden's motivation to perform 9/11 was alleged United States support of Russian "atrocities against Muslims" in Chechnya and more importantly, Osama bin-Laden personally disliked Bush. Russia has no entrance to Afghanistan, unless the Central Asian states open their borders. If they do open their borders and Russia invades Afghanistan, I think we'd see Part Two of 1979; except Russia wouldn't be propping up a communist government. An Invasion of Afghanistan takes away resources from Chechnya.