The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan: The causes and consequences

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the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan for the past three decades, causing many scientists, the military and politicians conflicting emotions.On the one hand, the operation itself, the key point of which was the storming of the palace in Kabul, Amin, it is still a model for the special forces action in such situations.On the other, it is impossible to consider the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in isolation from subsequent worsening of international tensions, as well as the fact that this event will eventually become one of the causes of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Meanwhile, to understand the deep meaning of the event for more than thirty years ago, it is necessary to take into account what was the situation in this Central Asian country in 1979.

all started in April 1978, when the power in Kabul in a military coup came PDPA led by the famous writer N. Taraki.While this development is considered a big miscalculation US as Taraki and his associates saw its main ally the Soviet Union, which was then in power are pretty decrepit government headed by Leonid Brezhnev.

leadership of the USSR and the Communist Party has sought to ensure that every possible way to support the young government of the Republic of Afghanistan.Throughout 1978 here allocates significant funds went to the military and economic advisers, who were the main organizers of the land and educational reforms.

At the same time inside Afghanistan growing dissatisfaction among ordinary people and among the ruling elite.In early 1979, this resistance has resulted in open rebellion, which was, as it turned out as early as today, were the United States.Even then Taraki Brezhnev demanded that he authorized the deployment of Soviet troops in Afghanistan, however, he received a firm refusal.

situation changed dramatically in September 1979, when one of the companions of Taraki and Amin made revolution came to power instead strangled in prison, the former president.Amin's rise to power has changed dramatically as the situation in Afghanistan and its position in the international arena.At the same time, according to the recently published memoirs of the famous American social activist Zbigniew Brzezinski, in the coup the United States played a direct role, with its sole purpose to plunge the Soviet Union in "their Vietnam War."

Thus, the main causes of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan consisted of an extremely important strategic position of the country, as well as the fact that after the coup, Amin Soviet government was forced to intervene in the internal affairs of that State, not to get on its border tinderbox.

the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was sanctioned by the decision of the highest party organ - the Politburo.In the decision it stated that in their actions the Soviet leadership is based on a friendship treaty, which was signed between the two countries in 1978.

eve of the new, 1980, as a result of the storming of the presidential palace, was killed Amin and became a protege of the president of the republic of the USSR B. Karmal.For some time, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan contributed to the normalization of the internal life of the country, but, later, Soviet troops were engaged in heavy fighting with the Mujahideen, which have resulted in more than 15 thousand dead on the Soviet side.