The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, 1979
Notes
- Soviets wanted to influence region and fit their southern expansion policy
- Sept 1979, Soviets invaded and installed Babrak Karmal as a puppet President
- The West, China and India were alarmed and many boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics because of it
- The invasion and Reagan being elected are seen as the ends of detente
- Soviets opposed by rebels called the Mujahiddin
- By 1985 Soviets had 100,000 troops here
- 1978 Karmal replaced by Mohammed Najibullah who was even more of a puppet
- Soviets accused of practicing inhumane types of warfare (i.e. Chemical)
- Soviets eventually withdrew
- Many parallels to the U.S. in Vietnam
Quote
“Strength, and not a little strength at that, is needed to defend socialist gains.”
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev
Summary
In 1979, the Soviets invaded afghanistan and installed Babrak Karmal as a puppet president. As a result, the West, India and China boycotted the Moscow Olympics. The Soveits were opposed by rebels called the Mujahiddin. Following in 1978, the Soviets repalced Karmal with Mohammed Najibullah who was even more of a puppet. During this the Soviets were said to be practicing inhumane types of warfare. Eventually the Soviets withdrew. Many people see this as the parallel of the US in Vietnam.