The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

Sometimes, one should act extremely cruelly because every person should understand thatif he does not support the revolution, he will simply be killed. A real revolution needs aguillotine working around the clock in the main squares of the cities.”“Well…” Starostin was taken aback. “You claim that a revolution needs victims tofeed its guillotine, but for the sake of what? For what did the Afghan military kill eachother? Why was blood spilled? I saw it with my own eyes. It was horrific and painful for meto watch. Why did those people die? What positive results were achieved during thosemonths that passed after April 27? Where are the flowers that were to sprout from theirblood-soaked soil?”“All of these sacrifices were made in order to realize the most progressive programfor Afghanistan: ‘The Main Directions of Revolutionary Tasks.’ You remember, it wasadopted on the twelfth day after the revolution.”“Yes, this program was adopted. I’ve read it, and even helped translate it intoRussian. The program is really good, although its title is not very accurately formulated,and the text is quite awkward. However, even today it remains nothing more than adeclaration. Where are the attempts to introduce this program into society? Just words,words, words,” said Starostin, trying to imitate the melody of a popular song by Dalida.“First of all, the meaning of it is a declaration of the Revolutionary Council’s decreeswhich are the most important for this country,” Dvoryankov began to lecture. “Valery, don’tyou know that the previously unheard of transformation has begun in this country? Thechanges are unseen now, but this country will be turned around soon. It will be turnedfrom a pocket of crime and poverty, forgotten by the rest of the world, into an avant-gardesocialist state.”274