This Day In 1970's History: Monday January 7, 1980
- Soviet troops have fanned out all across Afghanistan, setting up encampments that are said to have an air of permanence, and they are believed to be generally in control. But the Afghan insurgents who have battled the government since the Communists first took power nearly two years ago were said to be continuing resistance to some degree in virtually every region of the country.
More Soviet troop movements into Afghanistan were reported by American officials, who said that the force was now up to 85,000 troops, with the total likely to rise soon to more than 100,000. The State Department angrily accused Moscow of building a large, permanent
force in Afghanistan, in contradiction to pledges by the Kremlin. Afghan rebels continue to attack Soviet forces, who control the main roads and most of the cities. The war by Moslem guerrillas has sharply intensified since Moscow began pouring troops into Afghanistan, and a trip through rebel-held territory found that the guerrillas eagerly seek more guns. [New York Times]
- Moscow vetoed a United Nations call for the immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. The Security Council vote favoring the demand was 13 to 2, with only East Germany backing Moscow. But the Soviet vote was decisive, since Moscow is one of the five permanent Council members. Members plan to take the issue to the General Assembly, where no veto can be used. [New York Times]
- Washington moved to shield farmers and to calm grain markets thrown into disarray by President Carter's curtailment of grain shipments to the Soviet Union. The Carter administration announced that the government would buy up to $2.6 billion worth of corn, wheat and soybeans that were contracted for by the Russians but not yet delivered.
Senator Edward Kennedy charged that the Carter administration was "lurching from crisis to crisis" in domestic and foreign policy, particularly in handling the Afghanistan situation. The presidential aspirant called on President Carter to lift the grain restriction placed against Moscow on the ground that it would hurt American farmers and other taxpayers more than the Russians. [New York Times]
- Kurt Waldheim reported on Iran to the United Nations Security Council and offered little indication that he had made any progress in negotiating for the release of American hostages. The Secretary General's report paved the way for the Council to debate the imposition of sanctions against Iran. [New York Times]
- The Ford Pinto trial began in Winamac, Ind., where the auto maker is accused of criminal homicide because of a fatal crash of a Pinto. As prospective jurors were questioned, Ford attorneys gave county prosecutors several hundred documents they had sought for possible use in the trial. The contents were not disclosed. [New York Times]
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