Mr. Sandhage traveled to Afghanistan in 1977 during a far more quiescent time, shortly before a coup brought in the pro-Communist government.

By 1987, about 80% of the country's territory was permanently controlled by neither the pro-Communist government (and supporting Soviet troops) nor by the armed opposition.

The triumph in Afghanistan, when the pro-Communist government collapsed in 1992, dispersed the war-hardened jihadis back to their homes outside Afghanistan - and beyond.

The city also became a battle ground for the US and Pakistani-backed mujahideen forces who waged a strong guerrilla warfare against the pro-Communist government of Afghanistan.

While all of these People's Republics did not "officially" take power until after World War II ended, they all have roots in pro-Communist war-time governments.

In the 1973 conversation, Mr. Kissinger tells the president that "of course the newspapers are bleeding because a pro-Communist government has been overthrown."

The occupation created two countries, consisting of the north governed by a pro-communist government and the south by a pro-democracy government with Hokkaidō occupied by Soviet forces.

Mr. Kissinger grumbled to the president that American newspapers, "instead of celebrating," were "bleeding because a pro-Communist government has been overthrown."

The Chilean thing is getting consolidated and of course the newspapers are bleeding because a pro-Communist government has been overthrown.