Okla-homey
1/2/2008, 07:38 AM
January 2, 1980: Carter reacts to Soviet intervention in Afghanistan
http://aycu18.webshots.com/image/38977/2000597823428469110_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000597823428469110)
Jimmy Carter.
28 years ago today, in a reaction to the December 1979 Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan, President Jimmy Carter requests that the Senate postpone action on the SALT-II nuclear weapons treaty and recalls the U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union.
These actions were calculated to indicate that the U.S.-Soviet relationship had been severely damaged by the Russian action in Afghanistan and that the age of detente, which began during the Nixon years, had ended.
http://aycu30.webshots.com/image/38269/2000504406995339343_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000504406995339343)
Nixon and the Soviet premier
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the establishment by the Soviets of a puppet government in that nation, brought U.S. relations with the Soviet Union to the breaking point.
Carter's press secretary, Jodie Powell, called the Russian action "a serious threat to peace." On January 2, he announced that the Carter administration had asked the Senate to postpone deliberations on SALT-II, the complicated treaty dealing with mutual nuclear arms limitations.
http://aycu33.webshots.com/image/39312/2000865631535073052_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000865631535073052)
Carter and Press Secretary Jody Powell. Powell was a young Georgia guy who worked on the presidential campaign. Powell got involved in politics after being expelled from the Air Force Academy for cheating.
Carter also recalled U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union, Thomas J. Watson, Jr. home, ostensibly for "consultation." As Carter administration officials made clear, however, this action was intended to send a message to the Soviets that military intervention in Afghanistan was unacceptable.
In addition, the Carter administration was thinking about new trade restrictions against the Soviets and a boycott of the 1980 summer Olympics, which were to be held in Moscow.
Al these measures were considered very firm by the Carter White House. Unfortunately, in records made available after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Soviets weren't particularly impressed.
http://aycu40.webshots.com/image/39599/2000585129105318355_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000585129105318355)
Red Army on patrol in Afghanistan. c. 1988.
What did make a difference was the covert support made possible by a Congressman little known outside his native Texas named Charlie Wilson. You can go see the film starring Tom Hanks now playing if you're interested in that story.
http://aycu39.webshots.com/image/39118/2000557696357128822_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000557696357128822)
Stars of "Charlie Wilson's War," pictured below the actual persons who played critical roles in bringing about an infusion if dollars to arm and support the Afghan resistance.
http://aycu19.webshots.com/image/38938/2000533496803180217_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000533496803180217)
Soviet poster which pretty accurately described what was happening during the US covert support for the Afghan resistance movement.
“The prestige of the Red Army was broken, the heart of the Red Army was broken, the morale of the Red Army was broken and more than anything else, the influence in the Kremlin of the Red Army was broken. And the Army was then unable to persuade the Kremlin that there was a military opportunity in (other areas).” -- Charlie Wilson on the wider result of the Soviet military withdrawal from Afghanistan
Of course, it must be said, the support provided the Afghan "freedom fighters," known in Afghanistan as "mujhadin," made it possible for them to make the Soviet's occupation of the troubled country a very bloody proposition. It also was the first modern opportunity for young Muslim men to travel from around the Arab world to learn how to stalk and kill infidels.
http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/38811/2000510869666333055_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000510869666333055)
http://aycu30.webshots.com/image/38269/2000515298546881286_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000515298546881286)
Carter lost the election of 1980 to Ronald Reagan, who promised and delivered a vigorous and effective anti-communist foreign policy. Less than ten years after Ronaldus Maximus was inaugurated, the USSR was consigned to the ash heap of history as a failed 70 year experiment in Marxism.
http://aycu04.webshots.com/image/39723/2000552068937657590_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000552068937657590)
http://aycu18.webshots.com/image/38977/2000597823428469110_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000597823428469110)
Jimmy Carter.
28 years ago today, in a reaction to the December 1979 Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan, President Jimmy Carter requests that the Senate postpone action on the SALT-II nuclear weapons treaty and recalls the U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union.
These actions were calculated to indicate that the U.S.-Soviet relationship had been severely damaged by the Russian action in Afghanistan and that the age of detente, which began during the Nixon years, had ended.
http://aycu30.webshots.com/image/38269/2000504406995339343_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000504406995339343)
Nixon and the Soviet premier
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the establishment by the Soviets of a puppet government in that nation, brought U.S. relations with the Soviet Union to the breaking point.
Carter's press secretary, Jodie Powell, called the Russian action "a serious threat to peace." On January 2, he announced that the Carter administration had asked the Senate to postpone deliberations on SALT-II, the complicated treaty dealing with mutual nuclear arms limitations.
http://aycu33.webshots.com/image/39312/2000865631535073052_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000865631535073052)
Carter and Press Secretary Jody Powell. Powell was a young Georgia guy who worked on the presidential campaign. Powell got involved in politics after being expelled from the Air Force Academy for cheating.
Carter also recalled U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union, Thomas J. Watson, Jr. home, ostensibly for "consultation." As Carter administration officials made clear, however, this action was intended to send a message to the Soviets that military intervention in Afghanistan was unacceptable.
In addition, the Carter administration was thinking about new trade restrictions against the Soviets and a boycott of the 1980 summer Olympics, which were to be held in Moscow.
Al these measures were considered very firm by the Carter White House. Unfortunately, in records made available after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Soviets weren't particularly impressed.
http://aycu40.webshots.com/image/39599/2000585129105318355_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000585129105318355)
Red Army on patrol in Afghanistan. c. 1988.
What did make a difference was the covert support made possible by a Congressman little known outside his native Texas named Charlie Wilson. You can go see the film starring Tom Hanks now playing if you're interested in that story.
http://aycu39.webshots.com/image/39118/2000557696357128822_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000557696357128822)
Stars of "Charlie Wilson's War," pictured below the actual persons who played critical roles in bringing about an infusion if dollars to arm and support the Afghan resistance.
http://aycu19.webshots.com/image/38938/2000533496803180217_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000533496803180217)
Soviet poster which pretty accurately described what was happening during the US covert support for the Afghan resistance movement.
“The prestige of the Red Army was broken, the heart of the Red Army was broken, the morale of the Red Army was broken and more than anything else, the influence in the Kremlin of the Red Army was broken. And the Army was then unable to persuade the Kremlin that there was a military opportunity in (other areas).” -- Charlie Wilson on the wider result of the Soviet military withdrawal from Afghanistan
Of course, it must be said, the support provided the Afghan "freedom fighters," known in Afghanistan as "mujhadin," made it possible for them to make the Soviet's occupation of the troubled country a very bloody proposition. It also was the first modern opportunity for young Muslim men to travel from around the Arab world to learn how to stalk and kill infidels.
http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/38811/2000510869666333055_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000510869666333055)
http://aycu30.webshots.com/image/38269/2000515298546881286_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000515298546881286)
Carter lost the election of 1980 to Ronald Reagan, who promised and delivered a vigorous and effective anti-communist foreign policy. Less than ten years after Ronaldus Maximus was inaugurated, the USSR was consigned to the ash heap of history as a failed 70 year experiment in Marxism.
http://aycu04.webshots.com/image/39723/2000552068937657590_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000552068937657590)