January 1st, 1936
Afghanistan was a newly emerging nation in 1936. Having freed itself from the yolk of Western oppression, Afghanistan had gone through periods of reform and crisis. Years of civil conflict finally gave way to the tenuous rule of Muhammed Nadir Khan. After his assassination in 1933, Muhammed Zahir Shah, a mere 19 years old became the King of Afghanistan. Immediately there was a struggle for power among the various ministers and relatives of Muhammed. But rather than allowing his uncles and cousins to run his country Muhammed decided to take firm control of the Afghani government. By 1936 the governmental struggle for power was over. Through negotiation and the occasional application of force through the Royal Guard Muhammed had established complete control of the governmental structure. His plans for reforms and expansion could now be put in place. King Muhammed's first goal was to restructure his cabinet.
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The nation's government was harmed by the corruption of King Muhammed's paternal uncle, Muhammed Hashim. Hashim had attempted to take control over much of the government with his close relations to the security forces of the country. Not only was he the head of state but he also dominated the Ministry of Security. Using his security ties Hashim had terrorized the people and extracted wealth from them to the detriment of the nation. TO improve the government he would need to be removed from the security ministry. King Muhammed quickly removed Hashim from the head of security and placed himself in that position. This would actually prove to have benefits to the intellectual life of Afghanistan, as King Muhammed was able to rally a large number of the intelligentsia of Afghanistan to the cause of national strength and unity.
Muhammed considered whether or not to remove his uncle from Head of Governmnt but decided against it. It was better to keep his family at least somewhat close in a government whose stability was still in question.
King Muhammed also made a change in foreign minister. He promoted a man named Mohammed Daoud, a man with a great deal of contacts with
the rising Axis powers of Germany and Italy. His connections might prove useful in the future, should Afghanistan choose to align with that faction, or receive technological support. Afghanistan's new government was now under the complete control of a handful of well picked men. Hopefully these new arrangements would improve the long term prospects for Afghani development and strength.
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After making these shakeups in the cabinet, mostly from the privacy of his study, King Muhammed called his new cabinet to discuss Afghanistan's grand strategy.
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A quick stock was taken of Afghanistan's current situation. Afghanistan, due to its conflicts with the West and its former ties to Attaturk style reforms, had a large and relatively powerful military given its size. This would prove useful in Afghan attempts at expansion in the near future. What Afghanistan truly lacked was industrial strength, manpower, and intellectual strength. In every respect the nation was underdeveloped and divided. Steps would need to be taken in the long term to create a strong economic base.
The cabinet's next goal was to evaluate Afghanistan's strategic situation. It had three neighbors, two strong, and one weak. To the North stood the Soviet Union, the successor to the Russian Empire that had long threatened Afghanistan's independence. This historical animosity, linked with the strategically well placed location of Afghanistan would make an alliance with Russia both costly and dangerous. To the South and East stood British controlled India. The British also had a history of attempting to conquer the Afghan nation, and so alliance with them also seemed revolting. Lastly, to the West stood Persia, a weak pseudo-dependency of the British. This Muslim state proved a tempting target for Afghan liberation.
With very little debate, it was decided that Afghanistan had only two realistic Grand Strategies. The first would focus on maintaining Afghan neutrality. It would take few risks, focusing on keeping Afghanistan out of the various factions that were risking conflict. The army would be strengthened to defend against Western invasion. Fortifications would be built to defend against invaders. And overall the focus would be upon the improvement of the Afghan economy.
The second, and the one most heavily favored by the cabinet (especially Foreign Minister Daoud) would pursue a policy of aggressive modernization, expansion, and alignment with the axis faction. Moves would be taken to align with Italy and Germany in order to allow for more ease in declaring war on neighbors. The decision of whether or not to join the Axis faction would come at a later date, but for now it would remain an open option. Alignment would also allow Afghanistan to utilize the advanced technologies of the Axis countries. Expansion would be necessary to strengthen Afghanistan. Even if Afghanistan worked internally to modernize, it would never be strong enough if it stuck within its own borders. The only available targets were in the West. King Muhammed had ambitious goals and dreams of a united Middle East, led by strong secular, military ideals. The idea of revenge and the pushing out of imperial powers was too tempting to be given up. With Muhammed's approval, foreign minister Daoud was given orders to move closer to the Axis.
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Muhammed made plans with the cabinet for how to distribute the intellectual power of Afghanistan. The diplomatic corps was seen as largely unnecessary. Contact with the Axis powers was the only important diplomatic mission. Espionage was given a brief priority to create domestic spies and spies in Persia. These would be used to rally the people for conflict while making Persia appear more threatening. Lastly, priority was given primarily to the creation of a large and powerful officer corps, as well as a push for technologies that would improve the industrial advancement of Afghanistan.
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The next item on the agenda were reform laws. King Muhammed pushed for a massive investment in education. This was seen as necessary in
the long term to improve Afghanistan's intellectual resources. The Army was also placed at a lower training level. It seemed more important that Afghanistan quickly get soldiers in the field so that they could gain more important practical knowledge.
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=o4jom0rw2tu" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/ea5349e894a8668dafc783a9c99a3c622g.jpg" border="0" alt="Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire"></a>
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Lastly, King Muhammed ordered the creation of new army units. Despite demands for an air force, Muhammed placed the production emphasis on moe boots on the ground. There was far less need for an air force given that Afghanistan's enemy's in the Middle East would consist almost entirely of ground forces. Afghanistan's troop quality would be higher, and that's where it would garner its advantage.
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=iqht0yzm1wj" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/dcdb383e04cc85a0f218f2dafc62d5532g.jpg" border="0" alt="Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire"></a>
Thusly Afghanistan began on its vast modernization project. with the army as the vanguard, Afghanistan would soon liberate the Middle East
from European Imperialism. The only question now was whether King Muhammed's dream could indeed become a reality, or if his attempts would prove to be a flawed overextension of Afghanistan's capabilities. Only time would tell.
Afghanistan was a newly emerging nation in 1936. Having freed itself from the yolk of Western oppression, Afghanistan had gone through periods of reform and crisis. Years of civil conflict finally gave way to the tenuous rule of Muhammed Nadir Khan. After his assassination in 1933, Muhammed Zahir Shah, a mere 19 years old became the King of Afghanistan. Immediately there was a struggle for power among the various ministers and relatives of Muhammed. But rather than allowing his uncles and cousins to run his country Muhammed decided to take firm control of the Afghani government. By 1936 the governmental struggle for power was over. Through negotiation and the occasional application of force through the Royal Guard Muhammed had established complete control of the governmental structure. His plans for reforms and expansion could now be put in place. King Muhammed's first goal was to restructure his cabinet.
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=yjtombkjnzy" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/33be5fec94bcb773c28a3651bdf8d8c82g.jpg" border="0" alt="Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire"></a>
The nation's government was harmed by the corruption of King Muhammed's paternal uncle, Muhammed Hashim. Hashim had attempted to take control over much of the government with his close relations to the security forces of the country. Not only was he the head of state but he also dominated the Ministry of Security. Using his security ties Hashim had terrorized the people and extracted wealth from them to the detriment of the nation. TO improve the government he would need to be removed from the security ministry. King Muhammed quickly removed Hashim from the head of security and placed himself in that position. This would actually prove to have benefits to the intellectual life of Afghanistan, as King Muhammed was able to rally a large number of the intelligentsia of Afghanistan to the cause of national strength and unity.
Muhammed considered whether or not to remove his uncle from Head of Governmnt but decided against it. It was better to keep his family at least somewhat close in a government whose stability was still in question.
King Muhammed also made a change in foreign minister. He promoted a man named Mohammed Daoud, a man with a great deal of contacts with
the rising Axis powers of Germany and Italy. His connections might prove useful in the future, should Afghanistan choose to align with that faction, or receive technological support. Afghanistan's new government was now under the complete control of a handful of well picked men. Hopefully these new arrangements would improve the long term prospects for Afghani development and strength.
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=zznjinzk5zj" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/e715c2dffbef9af0d4795111035f34be2g.jpg" border="0" alt="Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire"></a>
After making these shakeups in the cabinet, mostly from the privacy of his study, King Muhammed called his new cabinet to discuss Afghanistan's grand strategy.
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=vv2wzjtwyjn" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/b565b58934efcd009837aef97690db872g.jpg" border="0" alt="Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire"></a>
A quick stock was taken of Afghanistan's current situation. Afghanistan, due to its conflicts with the West and its former ties to Attaturk style reforms, had a large and relatively powerful military given its size. This would prove useful in Afghan attempts at expansion in the near future. What Afghanistan truly lacked was industrial strength, manpower, and intellectual strength. In every respect the nation was underdeveloped and divided. Steps would need to be taken in the long term to create a strong economic base.
The cabinet's next goal was to evaluate Afghanistan's strategic situation. It had three neighbors, two strong, and one weak. To the North stood the Soviet Union, the successor to the Russian Empire that had long threatened Afghanistan's independence. This historical animosity, linked with the strategically well placed location of Afghanistan would make an alliance with Russia both costly and dangerous. To the South and East stood British controlled India. The British also had a history of attempting to conquer the Afghan nation, and so alliance with them also seemed revolting. Lastly, to the West stood Persia, a weak pseudo-dependency of the British. This Muslim state proved a tempting target for Afghan liberation.
With very little debate, it was decided that Afghanistan had only two realistic Grand Strategies. The first would focus on maintaining Afghan neutrality. It would take few risks, focusing on keeping Afghanistan out of the various factions that were risking conflict. The army would be strengthened to defend against Western invasion. Fortifications would be built to defend against invaders. And overall the focus would be upon the improvement of the Afghan economy.
The second, and the one most heavily favored by the cabinet (especially Foreign Minister Daoud) would pursue a policy of aggressive modernization, expansion, and alignment with the axis faction. Moves would be taken to align with Italy and Germany in order to allow for more ease in declaring war on neighbors. The decision of whether or not to join the Axis faction would come at a later date, but for now it would remain an open option. Alignment would also allow Afghanistan to utilize the advanced technologies of the Axis countries. Expansion would be necessary to strengthen Afghanistan. Even if Afghanistan worked internally to modernize, it would never be strong enough if it stuck within its own borders. The only available targets were in the West. King Muhammed had ambitious goals and dreams of a united Middle East, led by strong secular, military ideals. The idea of revenge and the pushing out of imperial powers was too tempting to be given up. With Muhammed's approval, foreign minister Daoud was given orders to move closer to the Axis.
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=yzjznytnmzi" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/6dc2513702749b658c2f03474d47c79d2g.jpg" border="0" alt="Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire"></a>
Muhammed made plans with the cabinet for how to distribute the intellectual power of Afghanistan. The diplomatic corps was seen as largely unnecessary. Contact with the Axis powers was the only important diplomatic mission. Espionage was given a brief priority to create domestic spies and spies in Persia. These would be used to rally the people for conflict while making Persia appear more threatening. Lastly, priority was given primarily to the creation of a large and powerful officer corps, as well as a push for technologies that would improve the industrial advancement of Afghanistan.
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=mq5wzncnwtd" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/63e5a6fabbe24bc4f0026a0ca913aad12g.jpg" border="0" alt="Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire"></a>
The next item on the agenda were reform laws. King Muhammed pushed for a massive investment in education. This was seen as necessary in
the long term to improve Afghanistan's intellectual resources. The Army was also placed at a lower training level. It seemed more important that Afghanistan quickly get soldiers in the field so that they could gain more important practical knowledge.
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=o4jom0rw2tu" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/ea5349e894a8668dafc783a9c99a3c622g.jpg" border="0" alt="Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire"></a>
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Lastly, King Muhammed ordered the creation of new army units. Despite demands for an air force, Muhammed placed the production emphasis on moe boots on the ground. There was far less need for an air force given that Afghanistan's enemy's in the Middle East would consist almost entirely of ground forces. Afghanistan's troop quality would be higher, and that's where it would garner its advantage.
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=iqht0yzm1wj" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/dcdb383e04cc85a0f218f2dafc62d5532g.jpg" border="0" alt="Unlimited Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire"></a>
Thusly Afghanistan began on its vast modernization project. with the army as the vanguard, Afghanistan would soon liberate the Middle East
from European Imperialism. The only question now was whether King Muhammed's dream could indeed become a reality, or if his attempts would prove to be a flawed overextension of Afghanistan's capabilities. Only time would tell.
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