Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

Question 1

What regime was an ally of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan?

Answer 1

PDPA regime

Question 2

What happened to the PDPA regime?

Answer 2

Rapidly began to fragment
-Scared new leader would realign with US

Question 3

What were Soviet interests in Afghanistan?

Answer 3

-There was a shared border stretching 2500km, adjoining the Muslim Central Asian republics of the USSR
-Afghanistan was a socialist state and a regional ally of the USSR. If it aligned with the US this would strengthen the USA’s geostrategic power in the region, at the expense of the USSR

Question 4

How did the USSR view the invasion of Afghanistan?

Answer 4

Intervention was a security necessity
-Intended to preserve, not destroy, the status quo

Question 5

How did the events in Afghanistan influence Iran?

Answer 5

Pro-American regime in Iran was overthrown by anti-American Islamic fundamentalists led by Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini

Question 6

What measures did Carter announce on the 4th January 1980 aimed at the USSR?

Answer 6

-A deferral action on cultural and economic exchanges
-Major restrictions on Soviet fishing privileges in American water
-A ban on the sale of high technology and strategic items to the Soviets
-Embargo on sales of grain to the USSR
-US military and economic assistance to Pakistan to enhance security

Question 7

What did the USSR believe that the US leadership in 1980 had used the intervention in Afghanistan to do?

Answer 7

-Enabled them to dismantle detente
-Revive the nuclear arms race
-Build up a position of strength for the USA in the Persian Gulf

Question 8

What was the overall consensus in the start of the Second Cold War?

Answer 8

It was an overreaction by the USA

Question 9

What was the Carter Doctrine?

Answer 9

1980
-Carter feared USSR invasion of Afghanistan represented new direction in Soviet global strategy
-Developments in Middle East would enable USSR to threaten essential oil shipments