Afganistan

Question 1

Why did the USSR invade Afghanistan?

Answer 1

Brezhnev wanted to support the communists who had taken over Afghanistan after a Civil war with Muslim fundamentalists.

USSR was afraid this fundamental Islamic faith will effect the Muslim republics in the south of the USSR.

Question 2

What was the Muslim fundamentalists in Afghanistan called?

Answer 2

Mujahideen.

Question 3

When did the USSR invade Afghanistan.

Answer 3

Christmas Day, 1979.

Question 4

What happened in the Afghanistan war.

Answer 4

USSR had 100,000 troops, more than Afghanistan and with superior equipment.

The mujahideen disappeared into the Himalayan mountains. Used Guerrilla warfare.

The USSR had 100s of casualties and the troops morale became low.

Question 5

What were the consequences of the Afghanistan war?

Answer 5

Afghanistan was left in ruins, with hundreds of deaths.
Landmines refugees
20,000 USSR troops killed and vast sums of money spent to achieve nothing.
USSR was viewed as weak. Some questioned if it could continue to control Eastern Europe.

Question 6

What was the US reaction to the Afghanistan war?

Answer 6

President Carter was horrified it damaged détente.

Immediately sanctions USSR by not attending the Olympics in Moscow in 1980. 60 countries joined the boycott.

Fears for oil fields.

Support for Muslim rebels like Osama Bin Laden.

CIA trained and armed Mujahideen through operation cyclone.