Afghanistan Flashcards
What were the causes of the events in Afghanistan?
- Muhammed Taraki (Leader of Communist Afghanistan/PDPA) overthrew the government in April 1978
- Taraki imprisoned and torture leading muslims
- In 1979 Hafizullah Amin becomes leader of Afghanistan and continues anti-islamic policies
- Civil War breaks out between Communists and Mujahedeen (Muslims)
- Afganistan is in the Persian Gulf and prouuces 65% of oil used, a crisis would be globally disastrous
What happend on 25th December 1979 in Afghanistan?
Brezhnev ordered 50,000 USSR troops to invade Afghanistan in support of the communists
What happend on 27th December 1979 in Afghanistan?
Amin was assassinated
What did Jimmy Carter do on 23rd January 1980?
- He promised to provide aid to countries in the Perisan Gulf
- He issued the ‘Carter Doctrine’
What was the Carter Doctrine?
Doctrine which stated that the USA would defend its intrests (oil) in the Middle-East with force
What did the USA provide to the Mujahedeen?
$32 Billion of weapons and CIA training
Why was the invasion of Afghanistan an disaster for the USSR?
- Their tanks weren’t suitable for the terrain
- They struggled to fight in in the unmapped mountains
What was the only good weapon for the USSR in the Afghanistan invasion?
Airplanes, so USA gave anti-aircraft missiles to the Mujahedeen
What was the political consequence of the events at Afghanistan?
- SALT 2 was not ratified by the US government
- The USSR were hugely embarrased by their defeat
What was the international consequence for the events in Afghanistan?
- Moscow Olympics in 1980 was boycotted by USA and other members of NATO
- In 1984 USSR and members of the Warsaw Pact boycotted the Olympics in LA
Instead the ‘Friendly Games’ were held
What was the economical consequence of the events in Afghanistan?
Jimmy Carter increased military spending by 5%
