From: Andrew Clough (aclough@mit.edu)
Date: Mon Dec 17 2001 - 17:53:22 MST
I was wondering if you could provide details on how military aid can
destabilize a country. I know you provided sources, but unfortunately I
can't read German, so if you could explain this phenomenon, or direct me to
a site in English that would do such, I'd be much obliged. I was under the
impression that during the cold war we were in the habit of stabilizing
countries whether they needed stabilization or not (propping up dictators...).
At 03:02 PM 12/17/2001 +0100, you wrote:
>In the middle and late 70s the USA and the SU pumped loads of military
>"aid" into the country (military, not humanitarian), because both parties
>were interested to control and exploit the largest fields of natural gas in
>the middle east. They either wanted to sell it to Europe (the USA, instead
>of Europe buying Soviet gas) or (the SU) control the price for both
>resources.
>
>This destabilised the country more and more. In 79, the soviets invaded
>Afghanistan that the external influence had pushed on the brink of a civil
>war, but the USA didn't give in. The military resistance, the Mujahed, were
>trained by Pakistan and the USA. Again, loads of weapons were pumped into
>the country. Modern weapons, even Stinger missiles. Their leaders were
>trained by CIA people and - read this carefully - Osama bin Ladin was one
>of them and the US knew exactly who he was.
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