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 And yet the last three are often mentioned as being made possible by this, or at least, having a direct causative effect. That aside, I take exception to the implication that South Africa ""committed suicide"" in any way by peacefully moving to a sharing of power! The ""aftermath"" of this (series of) battle(s) has been argued to include a hastening of South Africa's movement to the peace table, or conversely that SA hastened the end of the operations in Angola specifically so that the situation at home could be concentrated on. However you look at it, it made political sense to ""abandon the field"" and ""enter negotiations"" voluntarily. I'm not sure what is meant by ""let unita alone"" though? SA supported UNITA through the whole process of peace negotiations and the JMC etc. It was only after the 1994 elections in South Africa that UNITA was truly orphaned. I see that  has removed his request for proof of casualties. I wonder why? maybe he's actually read the article or the sources or waded through the ""debate"" on this page?   "