Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
•Soviets wanted to influence region and fit their southern expansion policy
•Sept. 1979, Soviets invaded and installed Babrak Karmal as a puppet President
•The West, China and India were alarmed and many boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics because of it
•The invasion and Reagan being elected are seen as the ends of détente
•Soviets opposed by rebels called the Mujahideen
•By 1985 Soviets had 100,000 troops here
•1987 Karmal replaced by Mohammed Najibullah who was even more of a puppet
•Soviets accused of practicing inhumane types of warfare (ie. Chemical)
•Soviets eventually withdrew
•Many parallels to the U.S. in Vietnam
Summary: Afghanistan wanted not to be liberated and so the Soviets were unsuccessful in influencing the region to fit their southern expansion policy. The invasion and the election of Reagan end Detente. The Soviet invasion involved 100,000 troops opposed by rebels called the Mujaheddin. Inhumane warfare used by the Soviets (Mined to blow off children's limbs so that resources are needed to keep them alive.) Soviets eventually withdrew as the couldn't keep up financially Multiple parallels to US in Vietnam.
•Sept. 1979, Soviets invaded and installed Babrak Karmal as a puppet President
•The West, China and India were alarmed and many boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics because of it
•The invasion and Reagan being elected are seen as the ends of détente
•Soviets opposed by rebels called the Mujahideen
•By 1985 Soviets had 100,000 troops here
•1987 Karmal replaced by Mohammed Najibullah who was even more of a puppet
•Soviets accused of practicing inhumane types of warfare (ie. Chemical)
•Soviets eventually withdrew
•Many parallels to the U.S. in Vietnam
Summary: Afghanistan wanted not to be liberated and so the Soviets were unsuccessful in influencing the region to fit their southern expansion policy. The invasion and the election of Reagan end Detente. The Soviet invasion involved 100,000 troops opposed by rebels called the Mujaheddin. Inhumane warfare used by the Soviets (Mined to blow off children's limbs so that resources are needed to keep them alive.) Soviets eventually withdrew as the couldn't keep up financially Multiple parallels to US in Vietnam.
"The Afghan tribes…see the central power as their representative; it manages on their behalf the conquests that they have made together...the tribes see the state as existing on the periphery…”
- Roy (1990)