The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

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decision. The Afghans listened to his lectures with great interest. They were fascinated by theSoviet Union.It is possible that whoever reads this book now will not believe us. Why would Afghanofficers be so attracted by the Soviet Union but not by the West, where life seemed so much morecomfortable? But that was really the case. Surprisingly, those Afghans who had been sent to studycivilian professions or military and police affairs in American or Western European (mostlyFederal Republic of Germany) universities expressed disappointment in the Western lifestyle, andoccasionally even hostility towards it, upon return to Afghanistan. On the basis of that hostilitytowards the West, they would eagerly become agents of Soviet intelligence and members of thePDPA. They were much more pro-Soviet than their comrades who were educated in the USSR.Why such disdain for Western society? When the Afghans were asked to explain this, theyusually could not articulate the reasons behind their bias. Some talked about immorality andvague concepts such as conscience and honor. Some didn’t like that they, officers of the Afghanarmy, were perceived in the West as second-class and were treated with thinly veiled disdain.Attempting to explain their dislike of the West, the Afghan officers could not formulate the essenceof their observations. People of traditional society were repelled by the Western destruction oftraditionalism and the dominance of individualism over collectivism. At the same time, in theUSSR, those traditional collectivist values were carefully protected and codified in the Moral Codeof the Builder of Communism.Zaplatin was different from many other Soviet advisers who went to Afghanistan (and alsoto Angola, Ethiopia, Cuba, etc.) to make money. He treated his work with great responsibility. Thisis why he soon had to deal with unpleasant issues. For example, he discovered that many of hiscolleagues, instead of working ten- or twelve-hour days as would be expected during164
evolutionary transition periods, would only remain in their offices until lunch. After a substantiallunch and a few shots of vodka (for disinfection) they would stay home or visit with colleagues of asimilar work ethic.It was most unpleasant when Vasily Petrovich noticed that even Lt. Gen. Gorelov acted inthis fashion. He issued a direct warning to Gorelov: “You have so many issues to resolve and youare never in your office after lunch!” Gorelov was surprised, confused, and tried to turn it into ajoke, but the situation was far from being resolved. A week later, Zaplatin came to the officers’ clubAskari, which housed the secret communications facility of the Soviet General Staff. What did hesee in the middle of the day but the Soviet top brass relaxing on the lawn, fresh after a sauna,wrapped in sheets, drinking beer, and chatting away. Head of the Soviet military advising missionGorelov was among them. Vasily Petrovich became indignant. He pulled Gorelov aside and said,“I’m going to telephone the head of the General Staff and report your behavior. You will be out ofAfghanistan in twenty-four hours.” He continued on to the communications room. Gorelov,wrapped in his sheet, dashed after him. “I give you my word as a Communist and a Soviet officerthat this will not happen again. Forgive me,” he pleaded.It never happened again. About six months later, Gorelov thanked Zaplatin. “Thank you,Petrovich. You saved me from big trouble.” But Zaplatin made many enemies among Sovietintelligence officers stationed in Kabul.The information about the situation in Afghanistan that was sent to the Center useddifferent channels and that created a problem. Vasily Petrovich tried many times to convince hiscolleagues to coordinate their reports before sending the information to Moscow. Differentevaluations of the situation were confusing to the ministries. The KGB resident and the GRU chiefwere sending their bosses in Moscow contradictory analyses, against their verbal agreement to165
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Chapter 1:VIRUS: How the invasion o
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arranged meeting point for the emer
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that Orlov-Morozov wrote to the Cen
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political situation developing in t
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as accomplices, received long-term
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World War II, Prince Daoud Khan, th
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“Can you imagine, Comrade General
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no idea that some destructive polit
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General Gorelov was particularly co
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ascent. One plane, flying low above
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would retrieve vodka along with gla
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laid down on the couch. He felt pre
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possible contingency. Any unforesee
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In July 1973, Major Qadir and his g
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the Parcham faction, also became mi
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the military transport division of
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on the morning of April 27, the off
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there were passwords. I think Amin
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commander suddenly stopped and turn
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in the lead tank, which was compris
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KGB colleagues, exiting the embassy
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married?”“I wonder whose side t
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detachments. The analyst of the Res
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front of the airport and drove back
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complained to him, “Your trade re
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“What’s wrong? Should I call a
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awaiting further instructions. My a
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well-prepared speech that touched u
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Youth”) in the 1940s. Babrak also
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eally need to act a year ago, becau
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After Daoud’s visit to Moscow, th
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that could be leveled against me or
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looming in the fields, to be handed
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“And what about Daoud?”“I don
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sent the commander of the President
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another Central Committee member, t
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forces in the country, which had be
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explosions in the night sky. Only a
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When the bodies were removed from t
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Chapter 2:“We Knocked Out Their T
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deputy resident gave Valery an indi
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trusted the deputy resident, who wa
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Alexander Victorovich puffed his pi
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As evening came, the city was shrou
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honor, religion, and property, we d
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evolution and kill the president if
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theory, thinks as if the Pashtun
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analyst’s intentions.***The morni
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Vladimir Alexandrovich was accustom
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intelligence officers, yet they wer
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“He thinks that he will recover s
Page 114 and 115: Three years ago, General Leonov was
Page 116 and 117: Politburo would be unpredictable. S
Page 118 and 119: Tomorrow? What time? I think it’s
Page 120 and 121: During the meeting, the issues of A
Page 122 and 123: institutions. Afghan special servic
Page 124 and 125: to prepare him to work in Afghanist
Page 126 and 127: favor, and inquired as to the natur
Page 128 and 129: “We will take care of all funding
Page 130 and 131: services, and to discuss the budget
Page 132 and 133: was short, without a moustache desp
Page 134 and 135: children, and myself—and for the
Page 136 and 137: “Yes guys, this list is extraordi
Page 138 and 139: This time, General Zaplatin headed
Page 140 and 141: through Reuters? Do we not have our
Page 142 and 143: much to discuss.Ulyanovsky started
Page 144 and 145: enewed force.“According to our fo
Page 146 and 147: ***One evening Starostin was called
Page 148 and 149: Parcham officers were passive on th
Page 150 and 151: operative boss,” mused the deputy
Page 152 and 153: glad that the Soviet comrades had a
Page 154 and 155: wasn’t involved in any affairs of
Page 156 and 157: the April Revolution.”The ministe
Page 158 and 159: do.”“I have no doubt that we wi
Page 160 and 161: invited to meet with Minister of Fo
Page 162 and 163: thirty of them. Two of them were im
Page 166 and 167: coordinate recommendations with eac
Page 168 and 169: April Revolution.Then Karmal took t
Page 170 and 171: low would be delivered that would u
Page 172 and 173: “Because they are Parchamis.”
Page 174 and 175: Having decided to marry his current
Page 176 and 177: ambassador. He, on the one hand, ca
Page 178 and 179: the state and party, which would me
Page 180 and 181: Bobrak?”This was the extent of th
Page 182 and 183: Indeed, there would be many more So
Page 184 and 185: Kharazov was tasked by the Central
Page 186 and 187: courtyard.”“Yes, of course.”
Page 188 and 189: again.”With a clear sense of reli
Page 190 and 191: counterintelligence managed to neut
Page 192 and 193: treatment. He thought that he would
Page 194 and 195: intervention. He had a very vague i
Page 196 and 197: interpretation of events. However,
Page 198 and 199: Amin interrupted him coldly: “I w
Page 200 and 201: his tormentors to kill him.“Every
Page 202 and 203: should ask your colleagues to be mo
Page 204 and 205: years earlier, he was offered a pos
Page 206 and 207: “Vladimir Alexandrovich,” begge
Page 208 and 209: he intended to play his own game. I
Page 210 and 211: was so enamored by the ideology of
Page 212 and 213: in Russian, “Do chego zhe mir tes
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Starostin often would run into Frye
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were to stay for another year or tw
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“I think that, from the U.S. pers
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leaders were convinced that the Sov
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Thinking about Americans, Valery re
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cannot, with full certainty, qualif
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As Surnin predicted, a CIA operativ
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wish was for them to make the Afgha
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Listening to Boris Nikolayevich, Bo
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until Bogdanov took the floor. He d
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doubts as to the old Communist warr
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simply didn’t have the means to o
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one hand, there was truth to this s
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auspices of the “National Pashtun
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this version of events becomes the
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Kryuchkov remained silent, digestin
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‘true communist’ and his friend
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Babrak Karmal looked extremely conc
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“Think, who could receive this Ba
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Preparations for the first state vi
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The papers also published Comrade T
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young people at the square, told th
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influential Islamist organizations.
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him as though considering their con
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Politburo superseded all protocol.
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with obvious Soviet participation w
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“I am working, Leonid Ilyich!”
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Once, the professor and the future
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As soon as they entered Dvoryankov
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Khan, Valery treated Dvoryankov to
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Sometimes, one should act extremely
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ecame a colony of Britain. Afghan t
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“Valery, do you think that we wou
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in the committee by a bureaucrat fr
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300 Afghani, according to an exchan
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The decree authorized the re-exprop
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Having said goodbye to him, Valery
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Nikolai Alexandrovich Dvoryankov di
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American intelligence services, eve
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***Sergei Bakhturin, an assistant t
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wife were staying in the room. Vese
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On February 13, a reception in hono
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to invite the archaeologist to spea
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a little over two hours to fulfill
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keep hostages in captivity. In othe
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was discovered that the gas in the
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“But how would the safety of Mr.
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“But then you should realize that
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are not as alert. People are more a
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newspaper. He settled on the name G
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“‘The security operatives, havi
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get inside his car? How can his cal
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“Wipe your tears,” he said in a
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differs from the way they think as
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“He told me to pick up my cleats
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describing what had transpired in H
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“I wonder who this person is? I h
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Starostin was not surprised by what
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Badruddin Bahes was close to Muslim
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nationalist and anti-Soviet. Howeve
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while he ruminated, then stared abs
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A: We failed to capture the terrori
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Question from a correspondent of Th
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flag on it. The U.S. ambassador was
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7. Who were the terrorists? It seem
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perceived at the Center? It would s
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Chapter 5:Rebellion in Herat - Firs
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struggle had become a historical le
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Revolution.“I understand that you
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evolutionary, anti-party, and again
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architectural monuments, and other
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een assumed that the Soviets in Afg
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“All of our leaders are waiting f
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spoke with Amin,” Gromyko added.
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decide to send them to Afghanistan?
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mistakes that they have made. Even
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It was a brilliant ploy. Everybody
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necessary to justify possible milit
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Unexpectedly, Andropov moved to sup
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this government. But can our troops
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military divisions had been deploye
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e illiterate his whole life, and to
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economic reforms as the solutions.
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conversation. “I would like to in
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look of satisfaction. He motioned,
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in connection with the additional m
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ased on the Bolshevik experience. F
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would flee to Pakistan after the de
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General Staff for his ruthless exec
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crucial decisions in complex situat
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and respectful when he met with the
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eason Ivanov did not fall prey to s
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Morozov, Khotyaev, and Starostin to
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Marxist-Leninist theory at the time
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violating their sacred duty.”Osad
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community, and the sinfulness of se
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“Unfortunately, this is not alway
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attempting to build socialism in su
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“In an attempt to halt anti-gover
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5. Confidential contacts with S. A.
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factions. The document mentioned th
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with their requests for direct invo
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armed opposition.Further into his m
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esidencies. Halbaiev, the commander
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discussed, Comrade Amin appeared to
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authority. They figured that the mo
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the stage of advanced capitalism on
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Safronchuk.Amin pretended to be ast
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danger to him. However, it is possi
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example, what was the purpose of Am
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“This is what happened,” began
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Ivanov hesitated. There was a silen
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special typewriter. He also had to
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influence. This topic was last disc
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paratroopers, disguised in aviation
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consequences of the confrontation b
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the organizational talents of Hafiz
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Persian Gulf.Détente was coming to
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duration of the war in Afghanistan.
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eported and objectively interpreted
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countries, including Iran, Pakistan
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officers took a seven-month-long co
Page 458 and 459:
Glotov and Alexander Dolmatov were
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You will be assisting me in special
Page 462 and 463:
was surprised to find out that not
Page 464 and 465:
The taxi driver sensed that his pas
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and PGU with great attention.“It
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“Valery, you should meet with Gul
Page 470 and 471:
***Major General Zaplatin was very
Page 472 and 473:
Zaplatin sternly glanced at the int
Page 474 and 475:
The Afghan understood that the Sovi
Page 476 and 477:
them.“Finally, here is the most i
Page 478 and 479:
neighboring Pakistan to become a re
Page 480 and 481:
Afghanistan. Comrade Taraki is faci
Page 482 and 483:
deal with Amin work? Where do the o
Page 484 and 485:
“It looks like the situation with
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analysts in the International Depar
Page 488 and 489:
1. Find a way to remove H. Amin fro
Page 490 and 491:
water has such healing properties t
Page 492 and 493:
the other leaders of the faction wh
Page 494 and 495:
was burning our hearts. We simply c
Page 496 and 497:
carry out a coup d’etat by overth
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indignation of Czech citizens watch
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global revolutionary movement. That
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workers, avant-garde peasants, and
Page 504 and 505:
Council in leading the party and st
Page 506 and 507:
that is happening behind my back.
Page 508 and 509:
Petrov responded sternly, briefly s
Page 510 and 511:
clear to him that he had to return
Page 512 and 513:
statement without the support of th
Page 514 and 515:
There were also several plain-cloth
Page 516 and 517:
People’s Palace, where a joint me
Page 518 and 519:
position within the leadership of t
Page 520 and 521:
greeting, he informed me that Amin
Page 522 and 523:
Alexander Mikhailovich Puzanov, Sov
Page 524 and 525:
I suggested that we kick them out i
Page 526 and 527:
your man or Amin’s man?”“He w
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his friends had already been arrest
Page 530 and 531:
By some strange coincidence, all of
Page 532 and 533:
party, demanding that he remove the
Page 534 and 535:
Afghan school teacher, Valery decid
Page 536 and 537:
path. We must do everything possibl
Page 538 and 539:
Taraki called Amin and spoke in Pas
Page 540 and 541:
esolution. He was now in control of
Page 542 and 543:
in an open power struggle. Or perha
Page 544 and 545:
the Afghans? Maybe we should just h
Page 546 and 547:
had helped create. It was clear tha
Page 548 and 549:
activists.After he drafted the cabl
Page 550 and 551:
“No, thank you. I’d rather she
Page 552 and 553:
ecognized leader of the democratic
Page 554 and 555:
the couch to flip through the Sovie
Page 556 and 557:
custody of the Armed Forces of Afgh
Page 558 and 559:
“I don’t think that will ever h
Page 560 and 561:
you over to Amin,” Starostin repl
Page 562 and 563:
Taraki, his family, or his allies.
Page 564 and 565:
second truck would monitor the inte
Page 566 and 567:
currency. Boris Semyonovich ordered
Page 568 and 569:
session so that we might hear his e
Page 570 and 571:
disappearance of Sarwari and the fo
Page 572 and 573:
eplacing him, why did you shelter a
Page 574 and 575:
interlocutor, ignoring Kurilov’s
Page 576 and 577:
issued cargo boxes.These preparatio
Page 578 and 579:
compact, they faced less difficulty
Page 580 and 581:
and the convoy continued its drive
Page 582 and 583:
suggested that he thoroughly clean
Page 584 and 585:
opposition figures was an obvious e
Page 586 and 587:
“So Taraki’s time is over?” a
Page 588 and 589:
said Zaplatin emphatically. Ustinov
Page 590 and 591:
“This is good. Please tell me, wh
Page 592 and 593:
military intervention.” But it al
Page 594 and 595:
expressed.“It is now clear that w
Page 596 and 597:
We were left untouched for the next
Page 598 and 599:
Chapter 8:Death Sentence“The city
Page 600 and 601:
living. They knew that the armed fo
Page 602 and 603:
were expelled from local authoritie
Page 604 and 605:
soon considered to be equivalent to
Page 606 and 607:
In the middle of October, military
Page 608 and 609:
The next morning, Bogdanov’s peop
Page 610 and 611:
“We ought to serve,” the ambass
Page 612 and 613:
the translation, was shocked. It wa
Page 614 and 615:
“May I speak to you not according
Page 616 and 617:
In concluding his speech, Amin said
Page 618 and 619:
contribution to this transformation
Page 620 and 621:
It was clear that the Center had to
Page 622 and 623:
circumstances. All conversations of
Page 624 and 625:
attaché reported, “Amin managed
Page 626 and 627:
doctors, he continued to smoke his
Page 628 and 629:
services, which we are currently in
Page 630 and 631:
“We’ve heard this before, Andre
Page 632 and 633:
and hydrogen bombs. He was the mini
Page 634 and 635:
The results of the discussion were
Page 636 and 637:
If facts indicating a change in Ami
Page 638 and 639:
minister understood the difficultie
Page 640 and 641:
“We can bring in some of our troo
Page 642 and 643:
Having returned to Kabul, Gorelov s
Page 644 and 645:
The helicopter brought Zaplatin to
Page 646 and 647:
intervention in Afghanistan. Ustino
Page 648 and 649:
Soviet Union. The first secretary o
Page 650 and 651:
Collectively, all of those factors
Page 652 and 653:
state. They would be informed as to
Page 654 and 655:
additional specific instructions ha
Page 656 and 657:
a hill, and was comparatively vulne
Page 658 and 659:
performed culinary miracles, partic
Page 660 and 661:
consulted about ways to install pow
Page 662 and 663:
you are constantly engaged in intri
Page 664 and 665:
possible only under the condition o
Page 666 and 667:
To make a long story short, by the
Page 668 and 669:
doubt flickered across his face. So
Page 670 and 671:
Karmal’s faith in popular support
Page 672 and 673:
Babrak Karmal was an educated and i
Page 674 and 675:
thanks to the pilot’s skill and p
Page 676 and 677:
head of state. He wanted to be rece
Page 678 and 679:
The final decision that day was not
Page 680 and 681:
“Well, Volodya, it is time to act
Page 682 and 683:
Aligned Movement, of which Afghanis
Page 684 and 685:
Kryuchkov had to issue the signal t
Page 686 and 687:
“At this point, you should stop s
Page 688 and 689:
The “cook” Mikhail T. poisoned
Page 690 and 691:
The poison worked, but strangely, o
Page 692 and 693:
“Everybody is here,” Kurilov as
Page 694 and 695:
“Is it possible to see a floor pl
Page 696 and 697:
Fear of potential failure played a
Page 698 and 699:
training the special forces units a
Page 700 and 701:
“It would be good for you to send
Page 702 and 703:
Amin was happy to hear that. He see
Page 704 and 705:
Akhromeev, the deputy head of the G
Page 706 and 707:
spectacularly into the mountains su
Page 708 and 709:
pancakes, veal, and traditional bak
Page 710 and 711:
A week later, Osadchiy summoned Sta
Page 712 and 713:
“What do you think of me, Vilior
Page 714 and 715:
“The leadership of the Central Co
Page 716 and 717:
the remaining food and drink to be
Page 718 and 719:
In total, twenty-five Afghans, incl
Page 720 and 721:
more decisive action in Afghanistan
Page 722 and 723:
But even the “special people,”
Page 724 and 725:
about their sources of information
Page 726 and 727:
care of. What happened to the famil
Page 728 and 729:
Naturally, Soviet military interven
Page 730 and 731:
However, not only did Taraki not cr
Page 732 and 733:
BibliographyBooksAblazov, V. I. Afg
Page 734 and 735:
Internal Affairs Advisers about the
Page 736 and 737:
[Afghanistan: Opposition and the Au
Page 738 and 739:
from 1977-1983.Biryukov, L. I. —
Page 740:
Shah Wali — A prominent member of
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