The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

this version of events becomes the object of Amin’s merciless persecution and evenphysical elimination.”“But he really did play a key role on April 27,” remarked Kryuchkov.“Along with other party comrades,” Bogdanov disagreed.“What else? What about his personal life?”“He is married, with three sons and four daughters. He is not particularly loyal to hisspouse, which, in their tradition, is not considered to be a particular transgression. Youknow that Karmal himself openly lives with Anahita Ratebzad, and when he has a chance,he doesn’t deny himself the company of other women.”Kryuchkov grimaced with disgust. “Continue.”“He knows English well. There is evidence that he is inclined to drug use. Accordingto some old party members, particularly Parchamists, he is a vicious and vengeful personwith great ambitions. That is about all.”“Yes,” said Kryuchkov, “certainly a bright personality. We should be able to figureout how sincere he is when he goes on about his love of the Soviet Union and his dedicationto socialist ideas.”“Once, Amin, talking to one of our delegations, said, ‘I am more Soviet than you are.’Nobody ever heard him utter one bad word about the Soviet Union. That’s a fact.”Bogdanov added, “Moreover, if anybody would mention anything negative about the SovietUnion in Amin’s presence, he would immediately interrupt him, ‘Never, ever speak this wayagain.’ According to a source in Amin’s entourage, he admires Stalin and tries to emulatehim. Very often, he talks about Fidel Castro with great admiration. He met Castro in Cuba242