Superpower Relations - 3.2 Flashpoints Flashcards
Why were the Soviets interested in Afghanistan?
The Soviets were interested in Afghanistan as they had formed a buffer zone (in 1979, a revolution had overthrown the Shah, replaced by a muslim fundamentalist government). In order to protect Soviet interests, it was important to ensure that there was a pro-Soviet government in Afghanistan
What happened on April 1978?
In April 1978, a pro -Soviet govemment under Taraki took control in Afghanistan and received economic assistance from Moscow.
What happened on September 1979?
In September 1979, the pro-Soviet government was toppled when Hafizullah Amin staged a popular coup. At first, Moscow supported Amin, but his government became increasingly unpopular as pro-Muslim factions tried to overthrow him. When Brezhnev heard rumours that Amin was talking to the USA about possible American support he decided to act
What happened on the 24th December 1979?
On the 24th December 1979, Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan . They claimed they had been invited in by Amin to support his government against terrorists
What happened on the 27th December 1979?
On the 27th December 1979, Amin was assassinated (almost certainly by the Soviet commando) and replaced by the pro-Soviet Babarak Kamal.The Soviets remained in Afghanistan for 10 years, fighting oponents of Babarak Kamal
What were the consequences of the Soviet invasian of Afghanistan 1979?
- End of Détente
- Salt 2 abandoned
- Second Cold War begins
- War costs Soviet Union 8 billion per year
- Afghanistan government replaced
- USA supplies muja hideen with money and weapons
- 1.5 million civilian deaths
- Soviet boycott of Los Angeles Olympics
- US boycott of Moscow olympics
- Carter Doctrine announced to protect the US interests in the gulf
- Economic sanctions imposed on Soviet Union by USA
- War in Afghanistan lasts 10 years
What were the characteristics of the Afghanistan War?
- Communism was against Afghanistan traditions
- Afghanistan underestimated their enemy
- Soviets were non-belivers which incredibly puts them into conflict with Afghanistan and their people
- Guerilla → not conventional warfare
- ambushes
- Sabotage
What did Jimmy Carter announce in response to the situation in Afghanistan?
He announced the Carter Doctrine in January 1980 where he said in his State of the Union Adress that the US was extending its policy of containment to the Middle East and they would be prepared to stop any country from gaining control over oil rich states of the Middle East
What did Carter do alongside the Carter Doctrine?
He formed an alliance with China and Israel to support the Mujahideen rebels against the USSR and the CIA secretly provided the Mujahideen with weapons and funds
In 1980, what did USA lead and what was it in protest of?
In protest against the invasion of Afghanistan, the USA led a boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games, which was held in Moscow. Over 60 Nations supported the US boycott.
How did countries respond to the Olympic Boycott?
Some countries, including Britain, did not prevent athletes from going, but did encourage them not to take part.
Others decided the athletes should take part only as individuals, rather than officially representing their country.
What did the US tell them if their athletes tried to travel to Moscow?
Their passports would be taken away
What happened as a result of the Olympic boycott in 1980?
The boycott was so effective that with many of the best athletes staying away, some events at the Moscow games were made to look second-rate. The Soviet Union was extremely angry at its chance to showcase communism to the world had been undermined and relations with the US deteriorated even further
Why was the Olympic Boycott from the US so significant?
This was a significant moment in the ‘Second Cold war.’ Relations were so poor that even 4 years later, when it was the USA’s turn to hold the olympics in Los Angeles in 1984, the soviet union led a boycott of the games which was Joined by 15 communist countries
