The significance of the invasion of Afghanistan

Question 1

What did the Soviet invasion do to the US public?

Answer 1

It convinced them that détente must end because they interpreted the invasion as evidence that the USSR wanted to expand its influence. The USA felt they had a duty to stop this

Question 2

What did the Soviet invasion do to the US government?

Answer 2

The invasion gave the upper hand to the faction around Brzezinski, who wanted to break with detente and stand up to the SU

Question 3

What did the Soviet invasion do to US Congress?

Answer 3

US Congress refused to ratify the SALT 2 Treaty, which indicated that the majority of Congress was against detente

Question 4

What did the Soviet invasion do to the US President?

Answer 4

Carter responded by effectively abandoning detente.

Question 5

Why was Congresses reaction to the invasion less significant than appeared?

Answer 5

Although they refused to ratify the SALT 2 Treaty, Carter and Brezhnev agreed that their government would implement its terms regardless