The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

Three years ago, General Leonov was one of the authors of a top secret report to the CPSUCentral Committee, in which leaders of the Soviet intelligence services proposed to limit thesphere of Soviet interests in the world. These people, who had access to all relevant economic,political, and military information, knew very well that brotherly gratuitous assistance todeveloping countries had become a very heavy burden for the Soviet Union. Wise men from theCentral Committee even coined a term for such free-loaders: “Countries of the non-capitalist wayof development.” In 1975, the intelligence community sensed the first signs of crisis in the Sovietempire. The Soviet Union could no longer feed, teach, and arm such a great number of “friends.”The report in question received the nickname “Novel of the Century.” However, it was buried inthe Central Committee. The influence of the orthodox communist leaders who didn’t wantanything to change was too strong.Leonov was one of those generals who afforded himself some free thinking. His chief wasthe conservative one, but he didn’t mind having occasional discussions with “liberals” in his circle.“You know, Vladimir Alexandrovich,” said Medyanik. “I just remembered a story that acolleague told me. It’s a remarkable story, and the guy who told it to me was no fool. He worked inKabul for a long time, and Taraki had been one of his contacts. So, before the founding congress ofthe PDPA in 1964, Taraki told our man, ‘we are in the process of forming political and leadershiporgans of the party and we will be able to seize power.’ The agent had heard such conversationsearlier, but hearing it from Taraki angered him. ‘Okay, and after you seize power? You will end upbegging the Soviet Union for assistance, and in addition, you will ask us to send troops to defendyour revolution.’ What was remarkable in that story was that Taraki calmly and clearly responded,‘So what? If it is necessary, then yes, we will ask the USSR for assistance. And the Soviet Union,loyal to its sense of international duty, will not say no to us. If necessary, you will send troops.’”114