Question by Kozlinaya Golova: How did USSR manage to avoid huge negative publicity during war in Afghanistan?
The Soviets did take many harsh measures — like destroying Afghan villages with all their inhabitants. Similar tactics have brought huge worldwide condemnation for USA in Vietnam and for France in Algeria. Throughout the world Hiroshima and Nagasaki symbolize American atrocities.
Yet very few people know about civilian suffering in Soviet war in Afghanistan. How did USSR avoid similar censure?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Bub
It helps to be in absolute control of the flow of information in areas you control.
Read all the answers in the comments.
What do you think?
Uczony Miecz says
As others have said, the USSR had complete control over domestic press coverage and a great amount of control of other press that tried to enter or exit the region. For years the Soviet people had no idea as to what was really happening in Afghanistan. It was not until the number of dead soldiers returning from the region became to much to hide that domestic feeling towards having troops in Afghanistan started to falter.
wdx2bb says
That's basically why the United States boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. It certainly called attention to the issue worldwide, even if the technique might be considered flawed.
Jon J says
I'm not sure I agree with your historical analysis.
The Red Army and Soviet Union is pretty well known for it's brutality and rampant murder.
redleg_army says
LMAO! Seriously? In case you haven;t heard Stalinist countries aren't to big on freedom of the press…see North Korea and Cuba and China for that matter