Soviet Union-Lost but not forgotten-Part 9

Valentina Tereshkowa, photo taken in 2003.

Valentina Tereshkowa was the first woman Soviet cosmonaut to fly in space. At the time of dissolution of the Soviet Union she held the rank of Major General in the Soviet Airforce. She was born in a village in Western Russia on 6th March, 1937. Her parents migrated to Belarus at the beginning of 20th century. Her father was a tractor driver and her mother worked in a textile plant. She began her schooling in 1945 at the age of eight, but left school in 1953 and continued her education by correspondence courses. She was interested in parachuting since her childhood. She did her first jump when she was 22.

After Gargarin’s flight, Sergei Korolyvov came with an idea of putting a woman in space. He wanted that the first women to be in space should be from the USSR. Valentina was selected amongst 400 applicants. She went intense training for her space journey. Training included weightless flights, isolation tests, centrifuge tests, rocket theory, spacecraft engineering, 120 parachute jumps and pilot training in MiG-15UTI jet fighters. On the morning of 16 June 1963, Tereshkova and her back-up Solovyova were both dressed in spacesuits and taken to the launch pad by bus. After completing her communication and life support checks, she was sealed inside the Vostok. After a flawless two-hour countdown, Vostok 6 launched faultlessly and Tereshkova became the first woman to fly into space. Her call sign in this flight was Chaika. Although Tereshkova experienced nausea and physical discomfort for much of the flight, she orbited the earth 48 times and spent almost three days in space.


Sergei Korolyvov(Korolev)(Left in the picture) was the Chief Designer and the mastermind behind Soviet Space Programs.

Due to sudden changes in the environment, Valentina experience physical discomfort. This was the first time a woman was in space. She could have experienced the usual problems women face in her life. Sergei Korolyvov was said to have shouted from the space control station in the USSR to ask her not to panic or cry.
With a single flight, she logged more flight time than the combined times of all American astronauts who had flown before that date. Tereshkova also maintained a flight log and took photographs of the horizon, which were later used to identify aerosol layers within the atmosphere.



USSR stamp commerating Valentina Tereshkowa's space flight. First woman in space.

After her spaceflight, she married Andrian Nikolayev. She gave birth to Elena Andrianova who later graduated as a doctor. Valentina Tereshkowa later became a prominent member of the Soviet Government. Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, she didn’t lose her prestige or fame. She is revered as a Russian hero her fame only surpassed by Yuri Gargarin and Leonov. Tereshkova was invited to President Vladimir Putin's residence in for the celebration of her 70th birthday. She said to Putin that she would like to fly to Mars, even if it meant that it was a one way trip.

My best wishes

Dear Friends,

The purpose why I created this blog is to ensure the protection of human rights and to save the girl child. I am not doing any sort of Communist propaganda. Human suffering should be eliminated in this. All humans should work with a goal to ensure that there is a sustained growth in the standard of human beings in the motherland. We need not bother whether it is a communist rule or a democratic rule but humans and all other living beings should be happy. Poverty, hunger is an curse to humanity and should be removed at all costs.

I am thankful to all readers for the continued support. Thanks for the emails and comments.

Good luck :-)

Soviet Union-Lost but not forgotten-Part 8

Yuri Gargarin-official portrait.

Yuri Gargarin was the first man to be in space. He travelled in Vostok 1 spacecraft launched by the Soviet Union on April 12th, 1961. Yuri was born in a small village in Russia. His parents were Alexey Ivanovich Gargarin and Anna Timofeyevna Gargarina. Gargarin’s family suffered during the Nazi occupation of USSR in Second World War 2. Gargarin’s elder sister was primarily responsible in bringing up his brother as their parents worked and generated income for the family. Gargarin was the third child for their parents. They totally had 4 children. While a youth, Yuri became interested in space and planets and began to dream about his space tour which became true one day. Gargarin was noted for exceptional hard working character. After starting an apprenticeship in metalworks as a foundry man, Gargarin was selected for further training at a technical high school in Saratov, USSR. Gargarin performed well in training. He was trained in MiG-15. After post graduation, he was assigned to Luostari Airbase in Murmansk Oblast close to Norwegian border. He was married to Valentina Goryacheva. He became the Lieutenant of Soviet Air Force. Later, he was selected as a Soviet Cosmonaut. After his spaceflight, Yuri was popular in the world even in the US. He traveled to many places, countries promoting Soviet achievement.


Yuri in spacesuit. Note the "CCCP" emblem.

Yuri was launched on April 12th, 1961. The launch site was actually Tyuratam, south west of Baikonour, Kazakhstan. But the Soviet Union while filing the papers mentioned the location as Baikonour, instead of Tyuratam. This is to keep the launch site as a secret due to Cold War tensions.
Gargarin orbited the Earth once in 108 minutes. He returned unharmed, ejecting from the Vostok capsule 7 km above the ground and parachuting separately to the ground since the capsule's parachute landing was believed to be rough for cosmonauts. It is quite risky too.


The Reentry capsule of Vostok-1.

The spacecraft attitude control was run by an automated system. Medical staff and spacecraft engineers were unsure how a human being might react to weightlessness, and therefore the pilot's flight controls were locked out to prevent Gagarin from taking manual control. Codes to unlock the controls were placed in an onboard envelope, for Gagarin's use in case of emergency. The automatic system brought Vostok 1 into alignment for retro fire about 1 hour into the flight.


An image of Yuri inside Vostok-1 during the spaceflight in Vostok-1.

Retrofire took place off the west coast of Africa, near Angola, about 8,000 km from the desired landing place. The liquid-fueled retrorockets fired for about 42 seconds. Due to weight constraints there was no backup retrorocket engine. The spacecraft carried 10 days of provisions to allow for survival during the natural decay of the orbit in the event the retrorockets failed. Retro rockets are used to slow spacecrafts speed while they are in motion. When the speed is reduced, automatically the spacecraft would lose its altitude while re-entering the atmosphere, provided the natural decay of orbit takes place as the spaceflight progresses. If retro rockets aren’t there, there is a high chance that a spacecraft would be in orbit for days thus making unmanned flights difficult as you need to keep a lot of supplies for the cosmonaut/astronaut for his/her survival.


Control Panel of Vostok-1.

Mission Timeline [Courtesy: Wikipedia, taken from Wikipedia]

• Wednesday, April 12, 1961 Minutes before his launch, Yuri Gagarin recorded this statement, "Dear friends, known and unknown to me, my dear compatriots and all people of the world! Within minutes from now, a mighty Soviet rocket will boost my ship into the vastness of outer space. What I want to tell you is this. My whole life is now before me as a single breathtaking moment. I feel I can muster up my strength for successfully carrying out what is expected of me."

• Countdown begins Yuri Gagarin is in the Vostok 1 spacecraft on the launch pad. His television picture appears on television screens in the launch control room from an onboard television camera. Sergey Korolyov speaks into a microphone: "Zarya calling Kedr (Gagarin's call sign). The countdown is about to start." Gagarin replied, "Roger. Feeling fine, excellent spirits, ready to go."

• 06:07 UTC Launch occurs from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site No.1; after Gagarin's flight that launch pad became known as Gagarin's Start. At ignition and liftoff, Sergey Korolyov radios, "Preliminary stage..... Intermediate..... Main..... LIFT OFF! We wish you a good flight. Everything is all right." Gagarin replies, "Poyekhali! (Off we go!)."

• 06:09 UTC Two minutes into the flight and the four strap-on booster sections of the Vostok rocket have used up the last of their propellant, they shut down and drop away from the core vehicle. (T+ 119 s)

• 06:10 UTC The payload shroud covering Vostok 1 is released; this uncovers the window at Gagarin's feet with the optical orientation device Vzor (lit. "Eye"). (T+ 156 s)

• 06:12 UTC Five minutes into the flight and the Vostok rocket core stage has used up its propellant, shuts down and falls away from the Vostok spacecraft and final rocket stage. The final rocket stage ignites to continue the journey to orbit. (T+ 300 s)

• 06:13 UTC The rocket is still firing, pushing Vostok 1 toward orbit. Gagarin reports, “... the flight is continuing well. I can see the Earth. The visibility is good. ... I almost see everything. There's a certain amount of space under cumulus cloud cover. I continue the flight, everything is good."

• 06:14 UTC The rocket continues to fire, starting to pass over central Russia now. Gagarin reports, "Everything is working very well. All systems are working. Let's keep going!"


Design of Vostok-1.

• 06:15 UTC Three minutes into the burn of the final rocket stage and Gagarin reports, "Zarya-1, Zarya-1, I can't hear you very well. I feel fine. I'm in good spirits. I'm continuing the flight..." Vostok 1 is moving further downrange from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. He is reporting back to Zarya-1 (the Baikonur ground station) and must be starting to move out of radio range of that station.

• 06:17 UTC The Vostok rocket final stage shuts down, ten seconds later the spacecraft separates and Vostok 1 reaches orbit. (T+ 676 s) Gagarin reports, "The craft is operating normally. I can see Earth in the view port of the Vzor. Everything is proceeding as planned". Vostok 1 passes over Russia and moves on over Siberia.

• 06:21 UTC Vostok 1 passes over the Kamchatka peninsula and out over the North Pacific Ocean. Gagarin radios, "...the lights are on the descent mode monitor. I'm feeling fine, and I'm in good spirits. Cockpit parameters: pressure 1; humidity 65; temperature 20; pressure in the compartment 1; first automatic 155; second automatic 155; pressure in the retro-rocket system 320 atmospheres..."

• 06:25 UTC As Vostok 1 begins its diagonal crossing of the Pacific Ocean from Kamchatka peninsula to the southern tip of South America, Gagarin asks, "What can you tell me about the flight? What can you tell me?” He is requesting information about his orbital parameters. The ground station at Khabarovsk reports back, "There are no instructions from No. 20 (Sergey Korolyov), and the flight is proceeding normally". They are telling Gagarin that they don't have his orbital parameters yet because the spacecraft has been in orbit for only 6 minutes, but the spacecraft systems are performing well.

• 06:31 UTC Gagarin transmits to the Khabarovsk ground station, "I feel splendid, very well, very well, very well. Give me some results on the flight!” Vostok 1 is nearing the VHF radio horizon for Khabarovsk and they respond, "Repeat. I can't hear you very well". Gagarin transmits again, "I feel very good. Give me your data on the flight!" Vostok 1 passes out of VHF range of the Khabarovsk ground station and contact is lost.

• 06:37 UTC Vostok 1 continues on its journey as the Sun sets over the North Pacific. Gagarin crosses into night, northwest of the Hawaiian Islands. Out of VHF range with ground stations, communications must now take place via HF radio.

• 06:46 UTC Khabarovsk ground station sends the message "KK" via telegraph (on HF radio to Vostok 1). This message means, "Report the monitoring of commands." They were asking Gagarin to report when the spacecraft automated descent system had received its instructions from the ground control. Gagarin reported back at 06:48 UTC.


Orbit path of Vostok-1

• 06:48 UTC Vostok 1 crosses the equator at about 170° West, traveling in a south east direction and begins crossing the South Pacific. Gagarin transmits over HF radio, "I am transmitting the regular report message: 9 hours 48 minutes (Moscow Time), the flight is proceeding successfully. Spusk-1 is operating normally. The mobile index of the descent mode monitor is moving. Pressure in the cockpit is 1; humidity 65; temperature 20; pressure in the compartment 1.2 ... Manual 150; First automatic 155; second automatic 155; retro rocket system tanks 320 atmospheres. I feel fine..."

• 06:49 UTC Gagarin reports he is on the night side of the Earth.

• 06:51 UTC Gagarin reports the sun-seeking attitude control system had been switched on. The sun-seeking attitude control system is used to orient Vostok 1 for retrofire. The automated orientation system consisted of two redundant systems: an automatic/solar orientation system and a manual/visual orientation system. Either system could operate the two redundant cold nitrogen gas thruster systems, each with 10 kg (22 lb) of gas.

• 06:53 UTC The Khabarovsk ground station sends Gagarin the following message via HF radio, "By order of No.33 (General Nikolai Kamanin) the transmitters have been switched on, and we are transmitting this: the flight is proceeding as planned and the orbit is as calculated." They are telling Gagarin that Vostok 1 is in a stable orbit. He acknowledges the message.

• 06:57 UTC Vostok 1 is over the South Pacific between New Zealand and Chile when Gagarin sends this message, "...I'm continuing the flight, and I'm over America. I transmitted the telegraph signal "ON".

• 07:00 UTC Vostok 1 crosses the Strait of Magellan at the tip of South America. News of the Vostok 1 mission is broadcast on Radio Moscow.

• 07:09 UTC Gagarin sends spacecraft status message, the message are not received by ground stations.

• 07:10 UTC Passing over the South Atlantic, the Sun rises and Vostok 1 is in daylight again. Vostok 1 is 15 minutes from retrofire.

• 07:13 UTC Gagarin sends spacecraft status message, similar to the one sent at 06:48. Moscow picks up this partial message from Gagarin, "I read you well. The flight is going..."

• 07:18 UTC Gagarin sends spacecraft status message, the message are not received by ground stations.


Gargarin memorial in Kazakhstan, former USSR-now an independent country.

• 07:23 UTC Gagarin sends spacecraft status message, the message are not received by ground stations.

• 07:25 UTC Vostok 1 is in retrofire attitude. The retros are fired for about 42 seconds as the spacecraft nears Angola on the west coast of Africa. Retrofire takes place about 8,000 km (5,000 mi) from the planned landing point in Russia.

• 07:25 to 07:35 UTC Ten seconds after retrofire, commands are sent to separate the Vostok service module from the reentry module (sharik). One bundle of wires fails to release and the two sections of the spacecraft remain attached for another 10 minutes. Vostok 1 crosses the west coast of Africa and continues over central Africa heading towards Egypt.

• 07:35 UTC The two halves of the spacecraft begin reentry and go through wild gyrations as Vostok 1 nears Egypt. Finally, the wire bundle burns through and releases the reentry module. Gagarin telegraphs "Everything is OK" despite continuing gyrations; he later reported that he did not want to "make noise" as he had (correctly) reasoned that the gyrations did not endanger the mission (apparently due to the spherical shape of the reentry module).

• 07:35 to 07:55 UTC Reentry continues over Egypt and out over the Mediterranean, near the west coast of Cyprus and then central Turkey. Continuing to drop lower, Vostok 1 crosses back into the Soviet Union on the Black Sea coast near Krasnodar. Gagarin experiences 8 g's (Gagarin's own report states "over 10 g's") during reentry but remains conscious.

• 07:55 UTC Vostok 1 is still 7 km from the ground. The hatch is released and two seconds later Gagarin ejects from Vostok 1. At 2.5 km (8,200 ft) altitude, the main parachute is deployed from the Vostok spacecraft. The Vostok 1 lands at 07:55 UTC. Two schoolgirls witness the Vostok landing and described the scene: "It was a huge ball, about two or three meters high. It fell, then it bounced and then it fell again. There was a huge hole where it hit the first time."


United States honors the Soviet Union.

• 08:05 UTC Gagarin, because his parachute opened at a much higher altitude than Vostok 1 (7 km (23,000 ft) vs. 2.5 km), lands about 10 minutes after his spacecraft. A farmer and her daughter observed the strange scene of a figure in a bright orange suit with a large white helmet landing near them by parachute. Gagarin later recalled, "When they saw me in my space suit and the parachute dragging alongside as I walked, they started to back away in fear. I told them, don't be afraid, I am a Soviet like you, who has descended from space and I must find a telephone to call Moscow!

Design

Vostok translates as East in Russian. It was primarily designed for human spaceflight. It had a dual nature too. It was also used to launch numerous spy satellites in the 1960’s. The module had two basic designs. Reentry module and Equipment module. Equipment module controls the operations of the craft and transmits signals. Reentry module or the Descent module is used to return the cosmonaut to earth safely. After retro-firing takes place, the cosmonaut ejects at an altitude at a height of 7km and he would land separately in a parachute while the craft lands separately.

Reentry Module Specifications:-• Crew Size: 1
• Length: 5 m
• Diameter: 2.3 m
• Mass: 2,460 kg
• Heat Shield Mass: 837 kg
• Recovery equipment: 151 kg
• Parachute deploys at 2.5 km altitude
• Crew seat and provisions: 336 kg
• Crew ejects at 7 km altitude
• Ballistic reentry acceleration: 8 g (78 m/s²).

Equipment Module Specifications:-• Length: 2.25 m
• Diameter: 2.43 m
• Mass: 2,270 kg
• Main Engine: 397 kg
• Main Engine Thrust: 15.83 kN
• Main Engine Propellants: Nitrous oxide/amine
• Main Engine Propellants: 275 kg
• Electrical System: Batteries
• Electric System: 0.20 average kW
• Electric System: 24.0 kWh
• Total Mass:4,730 kg
• Endurance: Supplies for 10 days in orbit
• Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8K72K
• Typical orbit: 177 km x 471 km, 64.9 inclinaton

After the spaceflight, Gargarin became the Deputy Training Director of the Star City cosmonaut training base. At the same time, he began to re-qualify as a fighter pilot. On 27 March 1968, while on a routine training flight out of Chkalovsky Air Base, he and flight instructor Vladimir Seryogin (Seregin) died in a MiG-15UTI crash near the town of Kirzhach. Gagarin and Seryogin were buried in the walls of the Kremlin on Red Square.


In memory of Yuri Gargarin.

Soviet Union-Lost but not forgotten-Part 7

Allied and Soviet Tanks stand facing each other during the Checkpoint Charlie Crisis.

Cold War in 1960’s

1960’s were a tensed period in Cold War history. Competition between USSR and USA was seen in space research, missile development, arms production, sports. It was a war between Socialism and Capitalism. The amount of nuclear arsenals increased. In case of a nuclear war, there was a possibility of an all-out war due to mutual assured destruction. During this period, USSR almost overtook USA in terms of weapons and armory. There was an atmosphere of suspicion everywhere as no one knew who could be a possible defector or a spy. Due to the strict military nature of USSR, even trespassing airspace was dealt severely. The Soviet Union often shot down even non-Soviet passenger plane trespassing into its airspace illegally. Protecting its airspace was a huge challenge to the Soviet Government. US frequently conducted reconnaissance missions by flying spy planes over the USSR and US pilots successfully escaped the missile fire of Soviet SAM’s(Surface-Air Missiles) and were able to return to their bases in Pakistan comfortably. India had good relations with the USSR. Taking advantage of the India-Pakistan rivalry in the Indian subcontinent, US developed good relations with Pakistan and also built many air bases to frequently fly spy planes over the Southern Central republics of USSR namely Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Krgyzhtan and Uzbekistan.


McNamara and Kennedy during the EXCOMM meeting.

Checkpoint Charlie Crisis

After the end of World War II in Europe, Nazi Germany was divided into four occupation zones per the Potsdam Agreement, each one controlled by the then Allied powers, Americans, British, French and the Soviets. Berlin was the seat of the Allied Control Council. It was also subdivided into four sectors despite the city lying deep inside the Soviet zone of occupation. Although the occupying powers originally intended to jointly govern Germany within its postwar borders, the advent of Cold War tensions caused the French, British and American zones to be formed into the Federal Republic of Germany (and West Berlin) in 1949, excluding the Soviet zone, which then formed the German Democratic Republic (East Berlin).

On 13th August 1961, East German Government started the construction of Berlin Wall. Anyone trying to defect or cross the border was shot. The construction of the Wall had caused considerable hardship to families divided by it. West Germany was ruled by a capitalist government while East Germany was a socialist state with a planned economy.

Tensions between USSR and USA grew again during Checkpoint Charlie Crisis. Checkpoint Charlie was a check post between the CCCP and USA since the partition of Germany. Shortly after the erection of the Berlin Wall, a standoff occurred between U.S. and Soviet tanks on either side of Checkpoint Charlie. It began on 22nd October due to a dispute over whether East German guards were authorized to examine the travel documents of a U.S. diplomat passing through to East Berlin. By October 27th, 10 Soviet and an equal number of American tanks stood 100 meters apart on either side of the checkpoint. The number of Allied tanks increased soon.


The Kennedy Administration gathers to discuss the next move as Soviet threat looms overhead.

Soviet Generals made an immediate response by sending more tanks to the checkpoint. Seeing the Soviet deployment, the Allied tanks backed up. For approximately 22 hours, the world was tensed as these two giants stood against each other waiting for a chance to start a war. The entire USSR was in red-alert for a possible nuclear war in case of an escalated crisis. The next day evening, an American tank backed a few meters. Immediately, a Soviet tank backed for a few meters. Likewise, all tanks backed up thus saving the day again.

Meanwhile a year later, US secretly installed Missile launchers in Turkey targeting Moscow. This alarmed the USSR considerably and the Soviet Union counteracted by installing nuclear-tipped missiles in Cuba. The then Cuban leader Fidel Castro assisted the Soviet Government to counteract the US threat. The tensed moment was yet to come! The photographs taken by US spy planes over Cuba indicated Soviet deployment of nuclear missiles. The Cuban Missile crisis was taking shape. The remaining 14 days were a tensed period as USSR threatened to hit back strongly for US deployment of missiles in Turkey. Do you think anyone would be hatching eggs if someone tries to act smart?


President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Soviet ships carrying nuclear missiles were seen moving towards Cuba. The then President John F. Kennedy ordered for a blockade of Russian (Soviet) ships. Though Russia was a part of the USSR, Soviet Union was often considered as the synecdoche of Russia. Blockade is an act of war. Kennedy felt that the USSR might not retaliate if the ships were blocked. The news was given to the press about possible Soviet first strike on US. But the sad news is that US deployment of nuclear missiles in Turkey to hit USSR was kept low. When USSR claimed the fact, no one believed.


U-2 plan shot down by Cuban forces.

Meanwhile, different things were happening inside a Soviet submarine. On October 27, 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, a group of eleven United States Navy destroyers and the aircraft carrier USS Randolph trapped a nuclear-armed Soviet Foxtrot class submarine B-59 near Cuba and started dropping practice depth charges, explosives intended to force the submarine to come to the surface for identification. Allegedly, the captain of the submarine, Valentin Grigorievitch Savitsky, believing that a war between USSR and USA might already have started, prepared to launch a retaliatory nuclear-tipped torpedo.

Three officers on board the submarine — Savitsky, Political Officer Ivan Semonovich Maslennikov and Second Captain Arkhipov — were authorized to launch the torpedo if they agreed unanimously in favour of doing so. An argument broke out among the three, in which only Arkhipov was against the launch, eventually persuading Savitsky to surface the submarine and await orders from Moscow. The nuclear warfare which presumably would have ensued was thus averted.

At the conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis held in Havana on 13 October 2002, Robert McNamara admitted that nuclear war had come much closer than people had thought. Thomas Blanton, director of the National Security Archive, said that "a guy called Vasili Arkhipov saved the world."

US forces landed in Cuba to overthrow the Fidel Castro government. US Airforce constantly bombarded Cuba, but failed to overthrow the Castro Government. US forces were defeated in the Bay of Pigs episode. After 14 tensed days, US agreed to withdraw the missiles in Turkey. But this was never exposed to the outside world. When USSR withdrew the missiles from Cuba, it again caused an embarrassment to the upper echelons of the Soviet Union as it was viewed as if the Russians were backing up after starting a crisis on their own. Nikita Khrushchev was blamed heavily of poor handling of the crisis and was later ousted. He was replaced by Leonid Breznev as the General Secretary.

NGO's donation and links

Dear fellow blog readers,

With the help of friends, the free medicine scheme was implemented. All working professionals can directly or indirectly help poor students and the unfortunate people. If you earn around Rs.1000/- you can give around Rs. 50 for the orphanages. Considering the fact that we all are humans and we are committed to social justice, we need to work on sustainable development and human rights. Let's work hard for the progress of our Republic. It's not about spreading communism or socialism, it is just to learn from the past and create a better efficient system.

Kaakkum Karangal
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As a republic we need to focus on a certain key issues. Human Rights, Forest Lands and Tribal rights, Child Rights, Women Empowerment, Food, Health, Labour rights, Peace and Animal welfare.



Generally, India is regarded as a third world country. We need not bother. Our way of life, traditions are different. We have 18 different local languages with more than 100 other languages and variety of cultures. Our way of life is receiving to share and not to compete on unimportant things. Our land belongs to us and we need to always remember that we share it with the tribes. We shouldn't forget the fact that they belong to our land and they have a right for living space. Simply by building IT parks, pubs, food courts, weekend parties we don't achieve progress. That type of progress isn't needed for our Republic. Let's retain our culture. Dhotis, Kurtas, Pants(Formals), Salwars, Sarees etc. Women and the present day younger girl generations should give a thought regarding their dressing style. They should take care of their own personal safety to avoid unnecessary problems.



We should take care of each other. Never mind whether we are a rich nation or not, but let's be a content nation. Let's be kind to animals. Afterall, animals are best friends to mankind. At one point of time, we all face family problems, breakup, at that time we would hate humans. During those times, animals are our best friends! They are also de-facto citizens of India. Let's share our food with fellow citizens. Let's share our clothes with them. Let's share our love with fellow Indians. Most of all Our Government would give us living space. Our Republic would protect us!

Petro Dollar Scam

Petro Dollar Scam.


Petro dollar is a term used to refer currency used to purchase petrol. But have you ever heard of Petro Dollar scam? Are you aware of the things which happenned just before you but you aren’t aware of it?

United States of America is a union of states and considered as a superpower. The only competitor was the USSR, which resulted in a period of mistrust, tensed period known as Cold War since 1945 till the end of USSR in 1991. Due to poor economy and also due to the ramifications of the Afghan war the USSR dissoluted into 15 countries. With the USSR gone, the USA emerged as the sole-superpower in a unipolar world dominating many foreign policies. The policies were aggressive, selfish, dominating and it resulted in many wars in Gulf and Afghanistan. The reason for all Iraq, Afghan wars is not because of terrorism or a nuke threat but just to protect the US dollar and propping up of Oil and Petrol prices. Read below to read more about the shocking story.


An Iraqi women pleads for freedom as an US soldier arrests her. US soldiers committed a lot of human violations against women in Iraq.


The story winds back to 1971 during the tensed Cold War period between the USSR and the USA, when US printed a lot of dollars in paper. When the French Government demanded Gold in return, the US government didn’t have enough gold for the money it has already printed. A deal was done with the OPEC or the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and globally oil and natural gas were dealt in dollars. The US Government got oil just for printing dollars in paper. Smart idea isn’t it? From that point on, every nation that needed to buy oil had to first hold US dollars, which meant that they exchanged their goods and services for dollars, which the treasury of US just printed. Getting everything just for printing papers with some figures? Smart idea, isn't it?


Huga Chavez was the Venezuelan President who criticized American policies and sold Oil and Petroleum in Euro instead of US dollar. As usual CIA played a crucial role in many attempts to overthrow his regime and wasn't successful.


This also reflects the reality in life. We always believe a lot of things without caring who is suffering what? Have we ever felt sorry for the thousands of Iraqi soldiers who died fighting American domination? Have we ever bothered about the 15,000 Soviet soldiers who died in Afghan war fighting Taliban? Just analyze who you have supported in the past and whom you have gone against? We all have made rubbish decisions in the past.

Now how are the wars related to this scam? Saddam Hussein started selling Oil and Petroleum in Euros instead of dollars. This would affect the American economy. The US claimed that Saddam had Weapons of Mass Destruction and entered into Iraq. The government was replaced by a puppet government within months which was nothing but US’s pet.

In 2003, the leadership in the White House created a pretext to wage war and invade Iraq and the first thing they did in 2003 was revert sales of oil back to dollars. For a short time, a major financial crisis was averted. And now see what’s happening? No one can easily run away after doing injustice. People need to pay for it!


What was the real purpose of Iraq War?

In 2006, Hugo Chavez the President of Venezuela started selling his country’s oil for currencies other than dollars and a number of attempts on his life and regime change were attempted, which were traceable to our CIA.

Next, the Iranian President Ahmadinejad decided to start selling oil for every currency except US dollars. The petrodollar scam is coming to an end. As the nations of the world find that they can buy oil with their own currencies instead of holding our dollars and more OPEC nation will abandon the dollar.



Saddam Hussein was the Iraqi leader during the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.


The worst thing is yet to come. The toughest and the regrettable part is when someone pays for something done in the past long time back. At that time anyone would bang their heads and regret and say, "God, why did I do that?". Very soon US would purchase oil and petroleum in Euros or maybe Rubles. Rubles, the currency of the former USSR and present Russia, their rivals. That would signal the end of Evil Capitalism.

USSR doesn't exists now. But without existing it has a good chance of winning the Cold War. LOL!

-Krishna Kumar.S

Soviet-Afghan war-The real war against terror!

Twin towers destroyed in 2001.

Introduction

Moral of the story: What you sow is what you reap! Think twice before supporting someone.


We are all aware of the sad events that took place in Mumbai several weeks back. Lots of innocent people died for absolutely no reason. Nowadays, no country is safe from terrorism. Mumbai train blasts, 9/11 attacks in United States, Ahmedabad blasts, Bangalore blasts are all examples of how powerful terrorism has grown. We clearly understand how Religion is used as a weapon to create clashes between the people. But where did all these people come from? Who exactly encouraged them? From where did they get all courage to fight against nations, which have powerful Navy, Air Force and Army? Is the world really moving towards destruction? What actually motivated the terrorists? The result could be traced back to 1979 during the heights of Cold War. All these problems took shape when United States assisted Mujahideen to fight against their bitter enemy USSR. It was during the September 11th attacks that United States realized that it had reaped what it had sown.


The mother of a Soviet soldier mourns the loss of her son. Her son died fighting against Taliban in the Soviet-Afghan war. Will she ever get back her son? Curse of a mother is very powerful. This entire world is going to witness more sad events for being in the wrong side.


This is not the end. The battle is over but the war hasn’t been won yet. This is only the beginning of what the world is going to suffer in future. The battle maybe won for the moment as USSR doesn’t exist, but the war is not over. This world would witness more crimes, human right violations, abuses, rapes, poverty in future for supporting and being in the wrong side. This is no one’s wish, but the curses of the mothers of the 15,000 Soviet soldiers who died in the Soviet-Afghan war. Those heroes would remain in my hearts forever. They fought for justice even though no one really understood it. That’s the attitude I like very much in them. Instead of merely controlled by some other person, they made their own decisions to realize the Socialist dream. This world would barely survive another 100 years, as it would pay the price of supporting the terrorists against the USSR. The Soviet-Afghan war was one last chance for the world to reestablish itself. The embarrassing defeat of the Soviet Union at the hands of terrorists would have and will have everlasting effects in our lives in the coming years! Human life is the most valuable gift. We have failed to appreciate it.

There is something called as natural justice in life. No one can escape by destroying others as Truth and Justice always triumphs. And that’s my country India’s motto too.


Soviets fight against Afghan Mujahideens. How the Hammer and the Sickle broke?

Background

Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) shortly known as the Soviet Union was a socialist state that existed from 1922 until its dissolution in 1991. USSR was the biggest country ever to exist on earth covering 11 time zones out of 24 world time zones, occupying almost one-sixth of the world area and one third of Asia. It was 7 times bigger than India and two and a half times bigger than the United States. Now how did such a great superpower collapse? Is Socialism bad? Free medicines, free education, free foods were available to every Soviet citizen. Women held equal rights in the USSR under socialist rule. Now what exactly went wrong with the Soviet system that it ceases to exist?


United States assist Al-Qaeda in the Soviet-Afghan War. Pic shows CIA agents touring Taliban camps. CIA created terror training camps where Taliban were trained.

Life in the Soviet Union

Life in the Soviet Union was safe, secure and healthy provided you don’t go against the state. Most of all women were treated as humans. USSR was the first country to give equal rights to women unlike the United States which don’t give such rights even now. There were no human rights violation or terrorism in the 70-year existence of the Soviet Union as all violaters were sent to gulags or prisons in Siberia to pay the price of going against the Government. Perfect Dictatorship! Rapes, abuse, abduction, theft, vandalism were severely dealt with in the USSR as it was against the socialist literature. Free medicine, free food and free education! Soviet Union preferred atheist attitude though it was officially secular. USSR was the only country to recover quickly after a devastating war to become an industrial Superpower within a few years. Soviet Union was the first country to design the world’s first Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile R-7-Semyorka and it was the first nation to launch the first artificial satellite. Who would forget the World War sacrifices? Women, Kids, fellow citizens dug trenches and fought against German invaders to save their country.


Bin Laden assisted by the United States. Pic shows Bin Laden fighting against Soviets with American equipments.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan was under communist rule during the controversial Soviet-Afghan war (1979-1989). Afghanistan had problems within itself when the Mujahideens wanted to capture power. Many revolts took place within Afghanistan. Many women were raped, mutilated, tortured. The Afghan government requested the USSR to assist them. The USSR refused to intervene initially as it was a tensed period of relations during the Cold War. But the revolts and human right violations continued. If someone hurts us by words, would you keep quiet? After sometime, any human would lose patience. Likewise the 11th time, the Soviet Union decided to enter war. Due to its socialist ideals, Soviet Union was popular in the world as they were more technically advanced in all aspects during the Cold War. The United States wanted to humiliate the Soviet Union in every aspect. After the embarrassing Soviet defeat the United States thought that it had won the Cold war. The events of September 11th, 2001 indicated otherwise!


Mujahideen leaders in White House. President Ronald Reagan promises assistance to Taliban to fight against the USSR, not knowing that his own country would be facing another bloody war.


The War begins…

In the midnight of December 24th, 1979, Soviet tanks and armoured divisions entered into Afghanistan to fight a war for the sake of justice to save the socialist ideals and human values. This world is a stupid place. It never appreciates the good but always supports the bad. The whole world was stunned, as it didn’t expect the Soviet Union to enter into a war given the already tensed situation of Cold War with United States. Soviet warplanes MiG’s, Sukhoi’s entered into Afghan Airspace in the early hours of Christmas. The whole world was brought to standstill as it knew it would be witnessing one of the key wars in human history. A superpower was in action against guerilla forces. No one knew that the Soviet Union was entering the last phase of its existence. The sad thing was that it disintegrated fighting for socialism. USSR had many reasons to fear. The southern republics of the USSR like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Krgyzistan were Islamic states. If terrorists captured Afghanistan, then there is a problem of “Jihad” in all-Soviet republics though the Soviet Union possessed a secular policy.



Soviet Union withdraws officially after a devastating war in Afghanistan.

Soviet soldiers started rebuilding Afghanistan once they entered. They reconstructed houses, promoted education. Women were allowed to be without veil and were made to interact with men. This was published in newspapers all over the world. Even many western journals appreciated Soviet efforts to promote goodness to the world. Meanwhile, the United States continued to project the USSR as the evil empire and as an aggressor. The United States spent a lot of money to give all sorts of problem to the USSR. The CIA offered to assist the guerilla forces to fight against Soviet troops. Stinger Anti-air missiles were secretly distributed to the Taliban to shoot down Soviet-Aircrafts. Ammunitions, walkie-talkies, guns were supplied by the United States to defeat the Soviet Union.


Soviet artillery guns captured by Taliban.


The Soviet Defeat

Soviet soldiers had a tough time very soon. There is a proverb in Tamil. Women are always responsible for their miseries. During the Soviet-Afghan war, many Afghan women supported the terrorists to fight against the Soviet Union. I can agree and accept their thoughts. Since they had been with their men for sometime, they naturally didn’t want to trust the Soviets, as they were only outsiders. Women stood in front of invading Soviet tanks. Most Soviet Tank commanders were in awkward situation, as they can’t assist anyone who is not willing. Most women assisted and helped the Mujahideens to ambush Soviet soldiers and kill them. Most families would pretend as if giving room for rest in their houses to Soviet soldiers then secretly inform Taliban soldiers and kill them. The joke was that later all these women were harassed by the terrorists. There was no Soviet Union to assist them when they realized the truth that they had been in the wrong side. Even today the Afghan people are still suffering. There is no Soviet Union to help them!


Abandoned Soviet T-55 tank near Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan.

Soviet Union was considered as an aggressor. The morale of the Soviet troops went down as they were considered as an invader. The war stagnated the economy of the Soviet Union. It was a great loss and embarrassment to the USSR. The citizens lost their faith in the Soviet system. There could be only one answer now. Withdrawal! Soviet Union made an embarrassing withdrawal. Few years later, it ceases to exist. On the evening of December 31st, 1991 the Soviet Red Hammer and the Sickle flag was lowered for one last time! The next day tri-color Russian flag was hoisted.

Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as the Soviet President ending the most powerful empire in the history of mankind after 70 years of its existence. This was a huge victory for the United States at that time. It was not even 10 years. The same Taliban attacked the United States with the same weapons the United States gave to fight against the Soviets. This is not the end. The silence of the death Soviet soldier is not permanent. It would have an everlasting effect in the ages to come. People need to pay the price for being in the wrong side to kill innocent people. We are all currently paying and we are forever indebted to the fallen Sovier soldiers.


A memorial erected to Soviet soldiers who died fighting for justice in Afghanistan. Kiev, Ukraine(former USSR republic).

Soviet-Afghan War Timeline

Early 1979: The USSR is requested by Afghan Government to enter into war to fight against Taliban.

Mid-1979: Aleksei Kosygin, the then Soviet Premier rules out a possibility of Soviet intervention. Soviet Union isn't interested in a war.

24th December 1979: Soviet Union enters war. The then General Secretary Leonid Breznev orders Soviet tanks to take on Afghanistan. India, longtime ally of the Soviet Union openly supports the Soviet-Afghan war in the International scenario. India was the only democratic country to support the USSR in this war.

25th December 1979: US President Jimmy Carter says, "Soviet invasion is a threate to world peace since the end of World War 2.

February 1980: Soviet soldiers guard various cities and protect women and children. Women are taught to speak, write and read. They are made to participate in cultural programmes.

1981: Soviet soldiers organize coordinated attacks on terrorist camps. By now, CIA is giving a lot of assistance to terrorists. Signs of Soviet loss are slowly coming out.

1982: Soviet Aircrafts/Bombers bombard mountains and hills to kill terrorists.

1983: United States gives tremendous assistance to Taliban to fight against the USSR.



The President of United States Jimmy Carter and Pakistan President Zia-ul-Haq promises Taliban of assistance.

1984: Soviet Union faces huge casualities.

1985: Soviet Union fights alone. The President Gorbachev feels the war is a waste. It’s no using in being with people who are brain washed by stupid ideals. Fighting increases brutally. 1985 was the bloodiest year in Soviet history as it lost more than 1000 soldiers.

1986: Soviet Union is unable to achieve the result it aspired for. It did give a cooling off period, but it has faced only defeats. Soviet Union thinks of a possible withdrawal.

1987: India now wants Soviet Union to withdraw from Afghanistan.

1988: Gorbachev visits the Republic of India and discusses about the war with the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

1988: Unrest inside the USSR as citizens themselves feels uncomfortable. Majority of the troops have withdrawn.

1989: Boris Gromov, the Commander General and his regiment was the last regiment to withdraw. Boris Gromov got down from his jeep and walked the Soviet-Afghan border on foot. He was the last ‘Soviet soldier’ to walk out of Afghanistan.



A Soviet soldier looks back at Afghanistan for one last time. He has lost his comrades. Job unfinished! He knew that he was lucky to be fortunate.



1991: On the last day of the year December 31st, 1991, Soviet Union ceases to exist. The Red Flag is lowered and is replaced by the tri-color flag of the Imperial Russia. Russia is declared as the successor of the Soviet Union and all of Soviet nuclear arsenals comes under Russia.

1992-1993: Kabul falls. The Taliban comes to power.

1994 – till date: Afghan Women are raped, harassed and forced into prostitution including pre-teenage girls. There is no Soviet Union to assist anyone in the world.

11th September 2001: The same Taliban hits back at United States in the 9/11 attacks destroying the World Trade Center and a part of the Pentagon.


A Mujahideen with Hand Mounted Stinger Anti-Air Missile to shoot Soviet Aircraft.

Soviet Losses:


1. 15,000 Soviet soldiers
2. 333 Helicopters.
3. 147 tanks.
4. 1314 Passenger carriers.
5. 433 artillery guns.
6. 1,138 Communication vehicles.
7. 510 Engineering vehicles
8. 11,369 petrol tanks.


Soviet Spetsnaz soldiers prepare for a mission to eliminate terrorists.

The Spetsnaz Soldiers were quite successful in many missions. But that wasn't enough to win this bloody conflict. How did such a great superpower collapse? It could have easily won the war by sending half of police forces of Moscow. The USSR initiated its own dissolution by entering into Afghan war.


Taliban operating sophisticated radio equipments supplied by the United States(CIA).


It's a mortal world. The world doesn't deserves to live. It need not be destroyed. It would destroy itself. It doesn't requires Kalki to come in the white horse with a sword. The job is already half-done. It's only 100 or 200 more years.



USSR makes an "embarassing" withdrawal. Troops withdrawing after facing defeat.

Losing is never easy. It hurts. Whoever it maybe. Whether its the UK, US or the USSR. Unity is strength. It's always better to stay silent than being in the wrong side. We are all humans and in the end of the day before going to bed we should say to ourselves, "We have done something good to a human being, than saying, "We have hurted someone".


Taliban fights Americans with the same Stinger Missile given to them during the Soviet-Afghan war.

Many thanks to the Soviet Union and war veterans. This article is dedicated to you people. In the Second World War, you defeated Nazi Germany which threatenned to dominate the entire world. It was only 34 years later that the Soviet-Afghan war started. It would have been nice if you had eliminated the terrorists as it would be another feather in the cap. But it doesn't matter now! Now everyone knows the truth and realizes the Soviet dream. USSR may rise again! It may not come again! But Soviet sacrificies are to be appreciated. Maybe there would be another USSR with a secular theiest ideology which believes in God which would be more powerful.


United States under attack by the same Taliban which it helped to fight against the USSR during the Soviet-Afghan war.

Moral of the story: What you sow is what you reap! Think twice before supporting someone.