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Running Head: a BIZARRE APPLICATION OF The Saur revolution 1 The Saur revolution Afghanistan the Saur revolution SGM Dennis J. Woods USASMA L04 student # 122 The Saur revolution 2 Abstract The Soviet invasion and withdrawal of Afghanistan is a well covered subject, what is not well covered, is the fact that all communist governments fail regardless of what action is taken. 1. The communist government left after the Soviet Unions pull out was an exception. They lasted for three years and fought the insurgents to a stand still and exposed the Islamic fighter’s weaknesses. They could have defeated the insurgents and won except for the new Russian federations refusal to sell fuel and weapons to the Afghan Army. 2. This is also a classic example of cause and effect. All governments rise and fall, the Afghan governments fall to the Taliban, made possible the creation of the terrorist group Alkada. The attacks on the US on 9-11-01 carried out by this group caused the Taliban governments over through by America in retaliation. 3. If Russia had continued support for the Afghan Army the Taliban would not have come to power, Alkada would not have formed, we would not have been attacked and not be at war today. 4. Subjects discussed will be the Saur Revolution, factions inside the PDPA, Soviet-Afghan relations and the initiation of the insurgency. 5. In conclusion had the communist system left in place after the Soviet unions withdrawal lasted we might not be at war today. The Saur revolution 3 The Saur revolution The Saur revolution displays all of the elements of the time honored practice of revolution followed by counter revolution in Middle Eastern politics. In Afghanistan this pattern starts with their first King, Mohammad Zahir Shaa who ruled for 40 years from 1933 to 1973. The king and his government were over thrown by a communist military coup conducted on behalf of his Prime Minister Mr. Daoud. While not a communist him self Mr. Daoud sought after Soviet support as a pathway to personal power. The communist party in Afghanistan started in 1965 and almost instantly ran in to trouble with the hard line Muslim clerks. Over time as they worked their message and provided millions of rubles in international aid money they began to gain acceptance. As early as 1954 with the help of the then deputy prime minister Mr. Daoud the Soviets provided military assistance and training to the Afghan Army then trying to steady the Afghan-Pakistan border. It was through the Soviet officer exchange and training program that Russia began to control the Afghan Army and made it largest support network. Mr. Daouds support for the communist party as stated earlier, was in an attempt to become their inside man and establish himself as the new ruler. However in 1963 Daoud was removed from office for increasing the countries reliance on Russia. In 1973 he returned to power with the help of pro-Moscow Afghan communist. Within two years he changed his policies towards the communist and ousted several communist from his government, had himself elected president and legitimized his regime. Soon after he attempted to resolve the border issues with Pakistan, this angered the Soviets and interrupted their grand plan to establish a warm water port on the gulf of Arabia. In April of 1979 the Afghani communist with the help of Soviet advisors assassinated Daoud. The new socialist government that was set up named Mr Mohannad Taraki as the Prime Minister and renamed the country the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. The God-less Soviet style land and marriage reforms instituted by the new communist regime soon alienated the middle class and hard line Muslims. This dissention and turmoil weakened the new government which threatened the Soviets hold on the area so the Soviets invaded in 1979 in order to support the new Socialist government. Elements of the PDPA After the revolution during the new administrations first 18 months, different factions maneuvered for decisive power in Afghanistan, they split along cultural, religious, and economic interest. Although Taraki assumed power as the president, the prime minister and general secretary of the PDPA held the majority of real legislative power. The result of all of this internal conflict was Old Soviet style, exiles, purges and executions that further weakened the new Arab-communist government. (AKA Sand commies) The Saur revolution 4 By mid 1978, a popular rebellion backed by the local military garrison began in the Nuristan region of Eastern Afghanistan, and soon a civil war spread through out the country. In September 1979, Deputy Prime Minister Hafizulla Amin seized power after a palace shoot out that resulted in the death of president Taraki. After two months of instability Amins regime was over thrown as he spent his time attacking his opponents in the PDPA and the growing rebellion. Soviet Afghan relations The Soviet connection in Afghanistan began as early as 1919, after their own communist take over. The Soviets began with millions in aid in the form of small arms, ammunition, gold and aircraft to support the Afghan resistance against the British. In 1924, the USSR again gave military aid to Afghanistan. It received small arms, aircraft, and Red Army military training in the Soviet Union for Afghan Army officers. The Soviet military began to station advisors to the region, and started a regular troop rotation in 1956 when both countries signed a joint defense agreement making the Soviet union responsible for training all Afghan Army officers. As early as 1972 the Soviets maintained as many as 100 military and technical advisors on a permanent basis in Afghanistan. They provided training for the Afghan armed forces and maintained the aircraft as well as providing vital intelligence about the region and its people. Over the years the PDPA became increasingly dependent on Soviet aid. In May 1978 the governments signed another international agreement, sending 400 Soviet military advisors to Afghanistan. In December of that same year Moscow and Kabul signed a bilateral treaty of friendship and cooperation that permitted the deployment of soviet forces if requested by Afghanistan. Initiation of the insurgency The Jamiat Islami party attempted to overthrow the Daoud government in June 1975. They started the revolt in the Panjshir valley, 100 miles north of Kabul, principally in the areas close to Pakistan. The Government easily defeated the insurgents who instantaneously retreated to Pakistan where they were given cover by the Bhutto Pakistan government. The Pakistan government was reacting to the Daoud communist government’s revival of the Pashtunistan issue, the Pashtunistan issue refers to a tribal clan that claims land in both Afghanistan and Pakistan and amounts to a land grab opportunity for both sides. After the Daoud government was replaced by the Taraki communist government in 1978 they started to institute many pro- Moscow reforms in an attempt to change Afghanistan’s century’s old feudal system and marriage customs. For a country steeped in Islamic traditions and laws these changes caused major discontentment. In addition the Taraki government went to war with its self, using purges, arrest and executions. Initially the newest Arab Communist government in Afghanistan crushed any and all opposition to these changes using maximum force. They arrested an estimated 20,000 civilians, trucked them off to a prison out side of Kabul and from there to a firing range for execution. An The Saur revolution 5 additional 27,000 political prisoners were later executed between 1978 and the Soviet invasion of 1979. Common targets were village Mullahs, tribal leaders, religious elite, and college staff. After the executions began a mass desertion began with many Afghans leaving the country for Pakistan or Iran. Reaction against the reforms was violent and many parts of the country went into open rebellion. As the insurgency continued it spread from the North receiving support from its bases in Pakistan. The Afghan Army was overwhelmed with low morale and desertions and proved incapable of continuing the insurgent fight. By the spring of 1979, 24 of the 28 provinces were in revolt. In March of that year Afghan Soldiers led by Ismail Khan mutinied and killed 100 Soviet advisors in the city of Herat. In retaliation the Soviet Union and the PDPA launched a bombing campaign against the city of Heart that killed 24,000 inhabitants. Despite these extreme measures by the end of 1980 the 90,000 man strong Afghan Army was under half strength due to desertions and defections to the other side. Like many other anti-communist movements in the 80’s the rebels quickly gained support from western powers and Saudi Arabia. It was with the continued support in men, material and weapons that the insurgency became successful. The insurgency its self fell to the Taliban in a counter insurgency and made possible the rise of today’s Alkadia. In conclusion had the communist system left in place after the Soviet unions withdrawal lasted we might not be at war today. The Saur revolution 6 References The bear went over the mountain AMAZON 2002. The other side of the mountain AMAZON 2002. A decade of violence: The Soviet Afghan War www.mtholyoke. Soviet war in Afghanistan en.wikipedia.org Notes from the CC CPSU Politburo chaired by Gorbachev www.alternativeinsight.com .
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