nur muhammad taraki and other communists took power in afghanistan on april 27, 1978. following an uprising in april 1979, taraki was removed by khalq rival hafizullah amin in september. by december, amin's government had lost control of much of the country. this caused the soviet union to invade afghanistan. carter was surprised by the invasion. the soviet invasion of afghanistan was seen as a threat and carter saw the soviet union as dangerous. carter announced sanctions on the soviet union. he created an embargo on grain to the soviet union. carter also supported not taking part of the 1980 summer olympics in moscow. british prime minister margaret thatcher supported carter's actions towards the soviet union. in early 1980, carter created a program to arm the mujahideen. the soviets were unable to fight off them off and left afghanistan in 1989.