Soviet war in Afghanistan

The Soviet-Afghan War began with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan on December 24, 1979, and ended with the withdrawal of Soviet forces on February 15, 1989. It was a war that had a global impact and indirectly led to the fall of the USSR. Afghanistan in the 50s and 60s, was a country that was beginning to modernize and industrialize with the help of both the Soviet Union and the United States. As animosity grew between the two world superpowers, the U.S. quickly created military ties with the neighboring country of Pakistan, so the Soviet Union created a military and political presence in Afghanistan to counter the American alliance. Until 1973, Afghanistan was led by a monarchy, but the Shah had little to no influence on his subjects.…

in the Soviet-Afghan War contributed greatly to the rise of Islamic extremism and terrorism. Events like the Soviet-Afghan War inspired deep Muslim identity and a desire to fight back against invading superpowers, such as the Soviet Union. Funded by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and other countries, militant groups like the Mujahideen became powerful forces in countries with weak political systems like Afghanistan and its neighboring countries. After the Soviet Union collapsed, there was…

and the Soviet-Afghan War In December of 1970 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan with a force of 30,000 troops in order to assist the communist government and setup a client state (“Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan”). This invasion marked the start of the Soviet-Afghan war, a long drawn out war due to the United States funding the Afghan freedom fighters who fought against the invading Soviet Union only to make the war longer and more expensive for them. The war would eventually end with a…

The Korean War and The Afghanistan War were two major events in the cold war, but both shared some differences and similarities. Each war was placed in a totally different theater around the globe. They both started in different ways, for different causes, in different settings, and with different ending, but still managed to have some similarities in them. We’ll be talking about all the difference and similarities. We will talk about each war in detail and how each started and ended and…

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in late December 1979, marked a turning point for the Cold War in the United States. The Soviet Union had sent thousands of troops into Afghanistan, and they quickly assumed political and military control of Kabul and other large portions of the country. This overt display of Soviet force formally ended the period of détente that had been used by Nixon and Ford. The invasion was significant because it was the first time the Soviet Union had invaded a country…

Identification and evaluation of sources The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan was a military expedition executed by the Soviet Union through the years of 1979 to 1989. The invasion was considered extremely controversial by many countries and even the residents of the Soviet Union thought it was controversial as well. The question for this investigation is: “Was the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan executed to help out the unstable Afghani socialist government or was it just Soviet imperialism?” Due…

“The broad framework of US foreign policy in the era of the Cold War, as well as other eras, the U.S. must adhere to the bottom line. This means, protecting a constructive investment environment for private business benefits” (Hartman, 2002). In 1981, former Pakistani Dictator and General Mohammed Zia al-Haq, understood US Policy bottom line. In a meeting with William Casey, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the dictator offered Casey with a map of the Near East…

Charlie Wilson’s War (Nichols, 2007) tells the story of a Congressman from the state of Texas and his involvement with covert actions in the Middle East. Charlie Wilson was not necessarily the most influential man in Washington, D.C. at the time, but throughout the movie his roles in Congress seemed to expand. The film covers the paramilitary covert action of supplying weapons to Afghanistan during their war with the Soviet Union. Charlie Wilson is a key component that initially urges the…

Afghanistan Under Taliban Rule: Implications on Women’s Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy Background Throughout history the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has faced numerous invasions, a series of civil wars and enormous bloodshed. In 1978 the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan seized power in a coup against President Mohamed Daoud in what is known as the Saur Revolution . This revolution is said to be the catalyst for upheaval and armed resistance that would follow for the next 20 years.…

The covert CIA actions in Afghanistan from 1979-1989 to support Mujahedin rebels fight off the invading Soviet influence, were necessary for not only stopping the spread of communism and preventing a hot war, but central to the beginning of the fall of the Soviet Union. “The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was viewed in the West — and not just in the United States — as the ultimate proof of aggressive intent.” Afghanistan is not as much a regime change instigated by the CIA, as it is an effort…