The Soviet Union was once an opposing superpower in the world arena. They sought to expand and secure their dominance in the region by invading Afghanistan. Though the world reacted harshly to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, should the Soviet Union have invaded Afghanistan to preserve communism and expand their influence in the region? Muslim and western countries saw the invasion as a barbaric act which was against all principles of peace. President Jimmy Carter stated that the Soviet invasion was "the most serious threat to peace since the Second World War" (Rubin, 1995). President Carter later placed a trade embargo against the Soviet Union on shipments of commodities such as grain. The western world was also anxious about Soviet troops being so close to the oil rich regions in the gulf. The United States had a Marine Expeditionary Unit on standby in case further actions in the region were needed.

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