U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000100440004-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 21, 2010
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: June 18, 1981
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/21 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000100440004-0
IRAD1O T\I REPORTS, INC.
4701 VJiLLARD AVENUE, CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND 20015 656-4068
PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF
PROGRAM 2 0 / 2 0
June 18, 1981 10:00 PM
WJLA TV
ABC Network
Washington DC
U.S. Involvement in Afghanistan
HUGH DOWNS: A few moments ago, in her report about
Soviet television, Ann Garrels described the-controlled picture
given the Russians of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. You'll
recall that surprising Russian move against the remote Asian moun-
tain country. December 1979. An invasionary force of Russian
troops rolls across the Soviet border into Afghanistan. Today
they are 85,000 strong, well-trained and equipped with the latest
weaponry, tanks, helicopter gunships, MIG jet fighters. The
Soviets are opposed by a guerrilla force of Afghan tribesmen
fighting for their homeland, fighting with whatever weapons they
can get their hands on.
PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER: This, in my opinion, is the
most serious threat to world peace since the Second World War.
DOWNS: Responding to the Afghan invasion, President
Carter publicly called for a grain embargo against the Soviet
Union, a boycott of the Olympic Games in Moscow, and'trade res-
trictions on Soviet goods.
Afghanistan i s in "the forefront of the news again this
week. Monday the U.S. announced a $3 billion program of economic
and military aid to Pakistan aimed at countering the Soviet threat
In Afghanistan and elsewhere in Southwest Asia. And Tuesday in
Peking, Secretary of State Haig disclosed that China and the U.S.
will support anti-Soviet forces in Afghanistan.
Well, just after the invasion there were several news-
paper reports that the CIA would attempt aid fhe Afghan resistance.
And then, for 18 months, nothing more specific was heard about
that. Well, Carl Bernstein, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his
reporting on Watergate, has been able to find out what has hap-
STAT
OFFICES Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/21 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000100440004-0 'ALCmES