The Soviets were big boys and can take responsibility for their own actions.

Yes, we know, the important point is that most Americans still aren't aware of what really happened and would not be happy about they way they were misled at the time and subsequently, except in a few non-mainstream places.

They hardly invaded/entered Afghanistan to assist the education of girls.

Yes, obviously; this doesn't alter the fact that whatever their reasons and their own interests, nevertheless they were supporting a regime which was trying to introduce more enlightened policies. As John Stockwell, an ex CIA guy said of his experience in Africa: "If you wanted to get rid of an oppressive dictator you couldn't come to us, you could go to the Soviets" -  who did support various liberation movements (no, not just out of pure altruism) in various places, e.g. Vietnam, Cuba. The latter supported (pretty altruistically) the liberation movement in Angola - it was Stockwell's job to spread lies about it and the Cubans to the media - e.g. a Cubans rape nuns story which he invented.

But the idea of getting the Soviets out of Afghanistan is not, of itself, so outrageous given the brutality of their occupation.

Compared with what - the brutality of the US occupation of Vietnam ? Or the brutality of the regimes the US backed in Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, etc., etc.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.