Soviet Invasion Of Afghanistan Flashcards
In 1978 a civil war broke out
In Afghanistan between the government and rebels.
Rebels were protesting at
The new radical reforms brought in by the communist afghan government which had close ties with the Soviet Union
In december 1979 the Afghan government
Requested help from the USSR
Why was it a disaster that the USSR was involved in the Afghan war
Because it was an unwinnablw conflict
Why was the Afghan war a seemingly unwinnable conflict ?
Had to fight in difficult mountainous terrain against determined opposition who were supplied with weapons by the USA
Why was the Afghan war disasteous for the USSR
15,000 Soviet troops were killed.
Government spent large sums of money but still coulsn’t win.
The Soviet Afghan war led to
A loss of public support in the USSR for the communist regime. The Soviet people were angry at falling living standards which had deteriated due to the sums spent on the war.
The Afghan war didn’t work out too well internationally either
The war was an embarrassment for Brezhnev and it undermined USSR’s strong militsry reputation.(which was essential in keeping the satellite states under control )
IN january 1980 the UN condemned the soviet invadion of Afghanistan.They proposed a resolution that demanded Soviet withdrawal.However the soviets rejected.
In 1980 the USA and 50 other countries boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games
Why did tensions increase between the superpowers and began them to move away from detente.
Soviet intervention of Afganistan was interpretated by the USA as communsim expansion.In 1979 Carter stopped the Salt 2 treaty being debated by the US senate, meaning it could never come into effect.He also called for an increase in defense budget.
US worried about the persion gulf
US were worried that USSR were trying to gain influence in the persian gulf, close to the Afghan border.The oil rich area had formed close economic ties with the West.Carter thought Soviet influence in Afghanistan threatened US interests.He then created the Carter Doctrine which was Carter warning the USSR he would use force to prevent them from gaining control of the perian hulf.
