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Afghanistan
Afghanistan has a history of being conquered by many different people. To the right is a brief list of people who have occupied it for the past 200 years. |
1) Persian (Alexander the Great)
2) Mongols (Genghis Khan) 3) Mughal Empire 4) Russian Tsars 5) British Empire 6) Soviet Unions 7) United States |
The United States' story will start in the 1980s with a struggle against Communism and the Soviet Union.
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After WWII the United States was afraid that communism would take over the world. The belief was if one country would fall to communism then another would fall, then another, the Domino Effect. In 1979, Afghanistan was in great turmoil. The prime minster, Hazifullah Amin, was hoping to sweep away some of the traditional Muslims and instill a more communism government with the help of Russia. A civil war erupted and the Muslims declared it a holy war, jihad. The Russians started supplying the Afghanistan government with weapons.
The US did not want to appear to be part of the war so the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) was sent to help the Muslim rebellion. The US didn't care so much about Afghans but wanted to keep the Russians in a long drawn out war and possibly stop the spread of communism. The USA's CIA would train the people how to fight guerilla style, even give them weapons, and make bombs. Osama Bin Laden, son of a billionaire, gives his money and helps organize Al-Qaeda (group of Islamic extremist), which is in Pakistan. They unite to fight the Russians as well. The Russians will eventually leave Afghanistan. During the 90s Taliban will raise to power. A group of Muslims that believe in strict interpretation of the Quaran a Also known for the bad treatment of women. The Tailban and Al-Qqeda are two different terrorist organizations that do work together. |