Term Paper on "Soviet Afghan War"

Term Paper 6 pages (1980 words) Sources: 2 Style: Chicago

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Soviet-Afghanistan War. Specifically it will analyze the Afghan resistance in the Soviet-Afghanistan War, including the factions, leaders, tactics, ideologies, and external connections. The war between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan began in 1979 and did not end until 1989. Throughout the war, the mujahidin rebel forces repeatedly outfoxed the Soviet troops, leading to a war that dragged on for ten years that many call "Russia's Vietnam." More than 25,000 Soviet troops were killed during the war, and the loss to guerilla fighters undermined the Soviet military and public opinion.

ORIGINS of the WAR

In the 1970s, Afghanistan was still a monarchy, and many of its leaders, who followed Marxism and Maoism instead, did not support Islam. However, of the approximately 12 million people living in the country, 90% claimed alliance to the Sunni Muslim sect. In addition, the country relied heavily on the Soviet Union for survival. However, all that would begin to change in 1973, when the monarchy toppled and a new leader took power. One historian writes, "In July 1973 Prince Muhammad Daud, a former prime minister and cousin of the Afghan King Zahir Shah, overthrew the government, abolished the monarchy, and proclaimed himself president of Afghanistan."

Daud ruled for five years, until he was overthrown by a coup operated by the very small People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). Many people felt the coup was at least partly supported by the Soviet Union. Ultimately, the group created so many reforms that chipped away at long-held Afghan social and cultural traditions that anarchy spread throughout the country. In fact, just before the Soviets invaded, rebel forces controlled twenty-three of Afghanistan's twenty-eight provinces. Soviets were afraid these growing anti-communist ideals would spread even further throughout the government and the country, and in December 1979, they intervened in Afghanistan. Before they entered the country, Soviet military advisors sabotaged many of the Afghan Army's many tanks and other weaponry.

Most military leaders believed the occupation would be short lived, but that was not the case. The first thing Soviet forces did was assassinate President Hafizullah Amin, the leader of the PDPA.

Traditional Muslims formed a group of guerilla fighters called the mujahidin (sometimes called "mujahideen"), which means Warriors of God, who fought the Soviet Union with the financial aid of countries such as China and the United States. They felt they were fighting a jihad, or Holy War, to save their way of life and religion. Historian Esposito continues, "Soviet occupation, however, provided a common enemy and mission. The call for a jihad offered a common, though transient as history would prove, Islamic religious identity and source of inspiration."

The Afghan people had a common goal and enemy, and they fought like tigers to protect their lands and culture from reform.

THE WAR ITSELF

The Soviets expected an easy victory in a country that did not even possess a railroad. However, they did not take into account the determination of the mujahidin or the support they found throughout the area. Their resistance was successful for a number of important reasons. First, the resistance was extremely localized and lacking in structure, so the Soviets could not concentrate attacks and battles in one or two specific areas against large forces. In addition, the guerillas often hid out in neighboring Pakistan, where they found safe haven, weapons, and support without Soviet intervention. Next, the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul, was home to the country's army, but the PDPA essentially destroyed the Army and most all of its officers. Many of those who survived joined the rebels, and so their expertise went to the side of the resistance, which created more problems for the Soviets, who had expected assistance from the Kabul Army. Finally, they had the advantage of their strong conviction they were fighting a holy war that would save their people from domination and loss of their culture and way of life.

Even though the rebel forces did not have the luxury of tanks and other heavy weapons, they managed to defeat the Soviets by other means. They mine roads and attack convoys, and they would isolate villages so that no food or supplies could enter or leave. Historian Joes continues, "When the Soviets launched their periodic sweeps, the guerrillas, even entire villages, faded into the high hills, taking every item of food with them; when the Soviet tide receded, the guerrillas and villagers returned."

Ultimately, the rebels did not think they could defeat the mighty Soviet Army, but they did think they could prolong the war until the Soviets gave up or it became too expensive.

The Soviets gave up ground to the insurgents almost immediately. After they invaded the country, they did not conduct any major military operations, and so the mujahidin had time to group up and strategize. In addition, the Soviets were not experienced in this new form of guerilla warfare. They had not had serious warfare encounters since World War II, and there were not enough Soviet soldiers to successfully countermand the rebel attacks and techniques. Instead, they resorted to systemically destroy the country and its inhabitants to control the insurgency. As author Joes notes, "The campaign against crops, animals, and people eventually made it impossible in many areas for civilians to supply food to the guerrillas. The Soviets were especially determined to empty the provinces along the borders with the U.S.S.R. And with Pakistan, a program described as 'migratory genocide'."

To this end, they employed everything from poison gases to bombs shaped like toys that children would play with before they exploded. It is believed over 1.3 million Afghanis were killed during the war largely in part of Soviet genocidal techniques, and other 4 million were displaced as refugees.

The Soviets had far superior air forces, and at first, their gunship helicopters made a clear difference in the fight. However, by 1983 the rebels had obtained surface-to-air missiles that kept the helicopters at bay. Pilots had to fly at higher altitudes and so were less effective in their attacks. By 1986, the rebels had acquired stinger anti-air missiles that were even more powerful and accurate, and this helped concentrate the war on the ground, where the rebels excelled.

The Soviets turned their attention to Pakistan and their continued support of the Afghan rebel forces. A reporter writing during the time of the war notes, "In 1985, Soviet and Afghan-government aircraft violated Pakistani airspace more than two hundred times, conducting air strikes that killed dozens of people. Although Pakistan's armed forces have reportedly shot down two intruding aircraft, the incursions continue."

Even this tactic did not stop the support flowing into Afghanistan; in fact, it made the rebels more sympathetic and in need of support in many of the world's eyes.

THE PLAYERS

Perhaps the most nefarious player in the Soviet-Afghan War was Osama bin Laden. It is well-known that he traveled to Afghanistan in the early stages of the war, and began to raise money and troops to help fight against the Soviets. He initially created "al-Qaeda" (which means "the base") as a central location to help organize and send out finances and fighters throughout the country.

These humble beginnings would help cement bin Laden's popularity in the country, and allow him to continue operations there after the Soviet-Afghan War was long over. Ultimately, bin Laden would mastermind the terrorist attacks of September 11 from his al-Qaeda base in Afghanistan, which, paradoxically, was at least partially funded with monies from the United States and other western nations. Other Islamic nations helped channel funds to Afghanistan to finance the rebels, the Chinese sent weapons, Pakistan offered safe haven and sent aid to the rebels and refugees, France sent medical personnel, and the United Nations repeatedly spoke out against the Soviet invasion.

However, it was the United States that played one of the biggest roles in the invasion. The country placed an embargo on wheat shipments into the Soviet Union, boycotted the Moscow Olympics in 1980, (a move numerous other countries also followed), and declared the war the biggest threat to the planet since World War II.

However, the United States played an even larger role in the Soviet-Afghan war, because they helped fund and support it. Historian Esposito continues, "Bin Laden's activities were applauded by the Saudi government, which, along with the United States, had made a heavy commitment to supporting the jihad against the Soviet Union. For America, this was a 'good jihad'."

Many Americans today may not know the extent of that fiscal support. Writer Joes continues, "American help to the mujahidin, little enough at first, amounted to $470 million in 1986 and $700 million in 1988."

Of course, the U.S. had no way of knowing that bin Laden's regime would ultimately turn on the west and plan the infamous terrorist attacks. However, U.S. (and other nations) support during the Soviet-Afghan War ultimately backfired on the country and the people, leaving Afghanistan open to fundamentalists rule and changing the face of Middle Eastern politics forever.… READ MORE

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