==The Cold War==
Later the USSR would steathly oppose the [[United States]] by providing aid to enemies in direct conflict. In 1971 the USSR provided heavy arms shipments to Egypt and Syria that were used in their 1973 war with [[Israel]]. Although the two Arab nations were routed the Soviets would replenish the arms lost. Soviet military assistance aided North Vietnam in the 1960's 1960s and 1970's 1970s during the [[Vietnam War]].
In 1979 Soviet forces entered [[Afghanistan]] to support that government against Islamic fundamentalist Mujahideen rebels. These rebels found support from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other Muslim nations. By 1989 the Soviets withdrew with some 14,000 killed and 53,000 troops wounded. This along with the economic cost helped lead to the disintegration of the Soviet Union. (Only 80,000 - 140,000 troops were in Afghanistan at any given time.)<ref>The World Almanac, Global Press, 1999</ref>
The Soviet invasion of Afganistan led to the America and several other nations boycotting the Moscow 1980 Summer [[Olympics]]. In turn the Soviets and many of their proxy states would boycott the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics.
==Disintegration==