12/26/1979

In his December 26, 1979, memorandum to President Jimmy Carter, titled ‘Reflections on Soviet Intervention in Afghanistan,’ National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski “sketched out a new Afghan policy, much of it to be carried out in secret…to channel medical kits and other aid to the Afghan rebels. ‘It is essential that Afghanistan’s resistance continues,’ he wrote. ‘This means more money as well as arms shipments to the rebels, and some technical advice. To make the above possible we must both reassure Pakistan and encourage it to help the rebels. This will require a review of our policy toward Pakistan, more guarantees to it, more arms aid, and, alas, a decision that our security policy toward Pakistan cannot be dictated by our nonproliferation policy. We should encourage the Chinese to help the rebels also. We should concert with Islamic countries both in a propaganda campaign and in a covert action campaign to help the rebels.’ ”

 – Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, Page 51