The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

attempting to build socialism in such a society.”“Once, during a conversation with our colleague, one of the religious authoritiestried to warn us, and through us the leaders of the new regime, against committing shortsightedand poorly-considered actions,” Orlov-Morozov continued reading. “He said, ‘In thiscountry one can do everything. One cannot do only three things: challenge the faith, honor,and personal property of Afghans.’“However, the government of Taraki and Amin transgressed against every item thatthe religious authority had warned about.“Decree Number Six of the new government canceled the debt owed tomoneylenders and landlords by peasants. It thereby inflicted considerable damage toeconomic ties in Afghan villages that had taken centuries to develop. It prevented somePashtun tribes from receiving, as a tribute from peasants, part of their income. DecreeNumber Eight, ‘On Land Reform,’ destabilized the situation in villages and tribal areas.Those decrees were provocations that caused the inevitable failure of important actionsproclaimed by the new revolutionary authority. Besides, the new decrees favoredlandowners and moneylenders more than ordinary peasants, who lost loans, donations,and implements of labor that they had previously been receiving from moneylenders andlandlords.’“Improve your style here,” said Orlov-Morozov, making notes in the margins, beforecontinuing to read:“It is only natural that the current situation in Afghan villages and tribal areasaffected the interests of the Muslim clergy. The mullahs who are unhappy about the newauthorities are influencing the anti-government mood among the people.408