11 - Invasion of Afghanistan

Question 1

What happened in April 1978 in Afghanistan?

Answer 1

• pro-Soviet government took control with support from Moscow

Question 2

What happened in September 1979?

Answer 2

• Hafizullah Amin staged a coup
• at first Moscow supported him because he seemed to support communism

Question 3

Why did Amin turn to the USA for military support?

Answer 3

• he became increasingly unpopular
• other Islamic factions started trying to overthrow him (e.g. mujahedeen)

Question 4

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

Answer 4

• 24th December 1979 - 1st January 1980
• 50,000 Soviet troops
• claimed they had been invited by Amin to support his government

Question 5

Murder of Amin

Answer 5

• 27th December 1979
• replaced by Babrak Kamal who had been in exile in Moscow and was a loyal communist

Question 6

How many Soviet soldiers were required to keep Kamal in power and why?

Answer 6

• 85,000 soldiers
• Kamal was very unpopular and many of his soldiers deserted to join the mujahideen

Question 7

How long did Soviet soldiers stay in Afghanistan and how much did it cost?

Answer 7

• 10 years
• almost $8 billion per year

Question 8

Consequences of the invasion of Afghanistan

Answer 8

1 - USA refused to ratify SALT II
2 - Carter Doctrine
3 - Olympic Boycott (1980)

Question 9

USA refused to ratify SALT II

Answer 9

• believed invasion was example of USSR trying to spread communism - which they had worked hard to resist
• Carter claimed invasion was biggest threat to world peace since Second World War

Question 10

Carter Doctrine

Answer 10

• January 1980
• State of the Union Speech
• said that USA would repel, by force if necessary, any threat to American interests in the Persian Gulf
• imposed economic sanctions on USSR
• weapons and money to mujahedeen

Question 11

Olympic Boycott (1980)

Answer 11

• games supposed to be held in Moscow
• over 60 nations supported US boycott - reflected influence of USA
• some countries (e.g. Britain) didn’t stop athletes going but did encourage them not to take part
• USA told athletes that if they tried to go, passports would be taken

Question 12

Was the US boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games effective?

Answer 12

• yes
• games were made to look second rate
• USSR angry that chance to showcase communism was undermined
• relations deteriorated

Question 13

What was the impact of the Olympic Boycott on the Cold War relations?

Answer 13

• very poor relations
• 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles = Soviet Union led boycott
• joined by 15 communist countries