Greetings, I'm still a little clue-less about the attempted soviet invasion of afghanistan....maybe under the current circumstances total soviet domination of that country would have been benefial....anyway, what's the story with that?
As far as I can remember it had to do with trying to control the region (which includes) where the USA unfortunately gets too much of its oil from. Also they attempted it I guess because they thought the Afghans, would be pushovers just because they live almost as crudely as Prehistoric Cavemen did.
Motivation for the Invasion of Afghanistan Simplified, you are right more or less. However, heavy Soviet influence in the Arab world was really broken after 1967. After that, the Soviets looked for other places to insert communist or at the very least socialist regimes. Africa was one of these, where they succeeded, with Cuban assistance, in erecting communist and Moscow-friendly governments. They also tried in Central Asia, partly because of the eternal Russian quest for a "warm water port". There was serious Soviet involvement in the Iranian revolution in 1979, and in Afghanistan they did in fact manage to put a communist government into power (although Gromyko would claim otherwise!). Then small uprisings started in Afghanistan and the pro-Moscow regime was in danger of falling. Only then, AFAIK, the Soviets decided to intervene. The initial phase of the operation was brillant and well-conducted. Within days, all of Afghanistan fell to the Red Army and order was restored. But then the USA saw the danger of the Soviet army poised for a pincer attack on Iran or even a joint action with India to quell Pakistan, and decided to fund the guerillas fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan - the Mujahedeen. Eventually, the Soviets had to admit that they were serving no useful purpose in Afghanistan, unable to control the terrorists and supporting an impotent regime that they would not even credit as being communist. So they withdrew. BTW - the Soviets sent 100 000 men into Afghanistan. We probably have a tenth of that there now. The USA sent 500 000 men into Vietnam.
Many thanks Andreas--many thanks. While its on my feeble mind and totally unrelated to this topic, I have some news foor you that you might like. The German publication "Die Welt" has had at least 2 news stories about possibly reinstituting the Eks as wartime bravery awards--I will give you more details tomorrow I feel like a father now with a pending newborn son. I need a cigar (and I dont smoke)
A son, Carl!? Why ye bugger, Congrats my man! Your first one? When is it due? I'll have a cigar here with you! Stevin
oooops, I should have been more clear in my posting (and many thanks Stevin) I was just using that newborn son as an expression to Andreas for my elation over the actual prospect of the German Goverment reenstation the Iron Cross as a bravery award. If they did--I would feel as if I was feel if I was expecting a new child to be born. I dont have any run rats yet, but might in the next few years.
Would you believe I still have some lying around when my girl forbade me to bring them to the US with me, as a present for her brother in law (who is a cop and LOVES them....) on account of them being 'contraband'...
I believe it. My Opa used to smoke Cohebas when (back in the early 1950s, when he was still a Merchant Marine Captain and we still traded and bought from Cuba before Castro came into the picture. My Opa used to buy boxes of those cigars--and they definately were high class ceeeeegars. I still have 2 of his old ceeeegar boxes which were Cuban Coheba Cigars. You can still smell the cigars. I too also knows a Copper who smokes Cohebas. I dont know where he gets them but he does get them. I think his wife is Cuban or he just knows someone in the community that he lives in (in Floriduh) and probably gets them from off the street (black market?)
Back to original subjct... I heard a rumor that the attempted soviet take over was becuase of a legend about hidden gold...
The ONLY "gold" in Afghanistan is called: "Opium". This was was Russias "Vietnam War" I really think it was a matter o fthey (the Russians) were becomind restless, and wanted to try new military equipment and tactics, on a place like Afghanistan--thinking (as Beneto M. did, when he foolishly attacked Greece) that they were going to be an easy pushover--well, they found out differently--did they not?
The Italians even had trouble attacking Ethiopia--which had almost no standing military, and being the super impoverished nation that it was and still is.
Heh heh heh, thank you for the laugh on my 35th year anniversary of being a resident of the planet Earth.
Thank you, I appreciate the acknowledgement. Well, hopefully, there will be at least 35 more anniversaries that I can attend to.
