Afghanistan and the end of detente

What was Carter's "ultimate goal"?

The elimination of all nuclear weapons from Earth.

What was Carter's initial approach to detente?

He was committed to it - reductions in nuclear armaments (cancelled the B1 bomber and neutron bomber projects). He was also concerned with human rights and willing to discuss SALT II.

- pressure to respect human rights increased tensions.

Why was Carter accused of being soft on communism?

The idea of Soviet expansionism in Angola and the horn of Africa.

What was the nature of the regime under the Shah?

He had been placed in control in 1953, he ran a brutal and deeply repressive, pro-Western regime.

Mohammed Daoud Khan and his government

He became President in 1973 and invited communists into his government but tried to remove them in April 1978. He was then killed as the army had sided with the communists, led by Taraki (PDPA).

What happened in December 1978?

The new government signed the Treaty of Friendship with the USSR and received political and military Soviet advisers.

When was the Shah of Iran overthrown?

January-February 1979

Who had overthrown the Shah?

A radical Islamic fundamentalist group led by the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini - fears over instability in the region.

Why was this significant?

There were fears that the regime would collapse and leave Iran vulnerable to leftist and communist influences - fears of the US.

Events in October 1979

Amin's faction of the PDPA assassinated Taraki to gain control - Amin's faction was unable to control the growing Islamic opposition he was facing.

What happened in November 1979?

The US embassy in Tehran was stormed, holding 52 US diplomats and citizens hostage.

Why was Afghanistan strategically important to the USSR?

Muslims made up 20% of the Soviet population and Brezhnev was worried that Islamic fundamentalism might spread - also that the Soviets could lose their ideological, political and economic influence in Afghanistan.

When did the Soviet invasion begin?

25th December 1979

What happened on the 27th December?

Soviet paratroopers and KGB agents attacked the Presidential palace and killed Amin and his advisors.

What happened in January 1980?

Babrak Karmal was selected to head the government - 85,000 troops by the end of January.

Why is this called the 'Soviet Vietnam'?

Suffered at least 50,000 casualties in war with the Mujahideen that lasted until February 1989.

What were the effects of the invasion?

1980 Moscow Olympic Games were boycotted by the US, grain and technology was held back from the USSR and SALT II negotiations were stopped.

Economic problems exacerbated for the USSR.

What were the consequences for Afghanistan?

876,000 dead, 5 million refugees between Iran and Pakistan.

What was the US's response to Afghanistan?

On the 2nd January, Carter recalled the US ambassador from Moscow.

On the 3rd January, Congress suspended consideration of SALT II.

What had the US done in Afghanistan to support the Mujahideen?

July 1979 - Covert program through the CIA to financially support them and later, providing weapons and money through the Pakistani intelligence services.

When was Carter's televised address?

4th January 1980

What did Carter say in this?

Alliance with China and Israel to support Afghan rebels (Mujahideen) against the Afghan communist government.

CIA to provide weapons for the Mujahideen.

Economic sanctions stopping virtually all trade with the USSR.

What did the US agree to following Afghanistan (nuclear missiles)?

It agreed to allowing around 570 missiles to be placed in Eastern Europe.

When was the Carter Doctrine?

23rd January 1980

What was the Carter Doctrine?

An attempt by an outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf would be regarded as an assault on the US's vital interests and would be repelled by military force if necessary.

How did this impact detente?

The Soviets felt that the US used Afghanistan to dismantle it and revive the arms race - saw the Doctrine as an overreaction.

Brezhnev felt his actions were consistent with the Basic Principles - intervention as a defensive act.

SALT II was also abandoned.