Soveit Union in Afghanistan

IN 1978 the Soviet Union went into Afghanistan. The reason they went in to Afghanistan was to fight Radical Islamic Fundamentalist. They fought with the Islamic fundamentalist to keep Russia safe from the terrorist movement that was developing in Russia's western provinces. Ofcoure it was also to expand communism. the the Soviet troop secured the Larger cities like Kabuol. They were hoping to back the Socialist movement in Afghanistan. Soviet troops would went out patrol to try to secure the rest of the country. The mountains proved hardest for them. When fired upon the Troops could not tell the direction of the attacks because of the echoing of the mountains when they were fired at them. In the interview with Soviet Vets they said that they conquered the cities and felt that they were in control. However, they soon realized that they were prisoners in the cities and would face fierce Resistance from the Radical Islamic terrorists.Soviet Vets did not know why they were there fighting and dying in such a hopeless place. They compared themselves to us Viet Nam Vets. The Radical Islamic Terrorists would mine the roads. It was so bad that the troops preferred to march and not ride in vehicles.. Their losses were many and their progress was little. The Radicals called their war effort "the war of 1000 cuts" . They would ambush the Troops and kill as many as they could. The Radical Islamic fundamentalists (terrorists) were receiving aid from the United States. The Radical Islamic Terrorists would hide amongst the Civilian population. The Soviet Troops would have to go in a city and fight a battle with many civilian casualties. Things started to improve for the Soviet Troops when Helicopter Gunships were added to their military arsenal. However, soon the Radical Islamic Fundamentalist were able to shoot the Helicopters down with the "Surface to air Missals" given to them by the United States. The war in Afghanistan war wore down the moral of the Soviet troops as they witnessed the slaughter of their fellow soldiers. 35000 soldiers died fighting the Radical Islamic Fundamentalist. The Troops were depressed and moral fell. They would compare themselves to the United States Viet Nam troops The Soviet military spent so much money Russia could never recoup that money.