In his 1993 memoirs, ex-Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) Robert Gates revealed that direct CIA involvement in Afghanistan had commenced almost six months before the Soviet invasion

 In his 1993 memoirs, ex-Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) Robert Gates revealed that direct CIA involvement in Afghanistan had commenced almost six months before the Soviet invasion. Jimmy Carter signed a presidential decree in July 1979 to covertly aid the Mujahideen insurgents. A memo for the President’s eyes only later warned him of the probability that “expansion of its influence over Iran will rank at or near the top of the Kremlin’s hierarchy of regional priorities.”[17] These material and financial contributions from the US effectively propped up the guerrillas throughout their ten year war against the Red Army.