To understand today’s troubles we
have to go back – way back.
There have been 4 attempts to invade and control its people.
1). Alexander the Great 320 B.C.E.
2). Genghis Khan 1200 C.E.
3). The British Empire (3 times)!
4). The Soviet Union
Alexander the Great
• - Led the world’s largest army across the known
world, conquering every empire in his path.
• - Died in Babylon (Iraq) on his way home at 32.
• - On his death bed whispered his last words:
"I defeated the Persians, and
I swung through the Pyramids,
But, I wept in Bactria" (ancient name for
Afghanistan)
Genghis Khan
• Well known as a bad dude. Remembered for
his willingness to kill EVERYONE!
• While he had some success in Afghanistan it
was the only place his empire couldn’t hang on
to.
The British Empire
Afghanistan 1842, 1880, 1919.
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According to Professor Dean Wright of Oxford University, “The British
Empire never wanted to conquer Afghanistan. Only to help establish a better
government” (Constant internal tribal fighting).
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On one offensive in the Anglo-Afghan War in 1842, 20,000 British troops left
Kabul for battle, 1 man named Dr. W. Brydon returned.
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The Brits returned in 1880 to attempt to control the influence of Russia in
Afghanistan. (Remember, the Brits control India at this time) Brits allowed
Afghanistan to control their own domestic policies, but Brits controlled their
foreign affairs. Eventually, the Brits lose again.
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By 1919 the British were already fighting in WWI and had no appetite for
another fight with the Afghans when they invaded India and signed a peace
agreement.
http://www.friedgold.co.uk/battles.html
Three Cups of Tea?
• When the British left India in 1947, they set
the modern borders of Afghanistan, Pakistan,
and India.
• Many people in this region do not recognize
these borders as legitimate.
• Three Cups of Tea: Kashmir Region – still
occupied by China, India and Pakistan.
(Nuclear weapons)
Ethnic Groups Map
Pashtun: largest ethnic
group, mostly farmers and
Sunni Muslims
Tajik: live mostly in the
northeast, second largest
ethnic group, mostly Sunni
Muslims
Hazara: live in the Hindu
Kush mountains, primarily
Shiite Muslims
Uzbek: live mostly along the
northern border, mostly Sunni
Muslims
Aimaqs: a farming and
herding tribe in the west,
mostly Sunni Muslims
Turkmen and Kirghiz:
nomadic herders and
craftsmen, mostly Sunni
Muslims
Over 30 languages are spoken in Afghanistan.
Baluch: nomadic tribe living
in the southern deserts,
Sunni Muslims
What do all of these nations have in
common?
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They were all the biggest army in the world at the time of
their involvement in Afghanistan.
They relied on huge shows of military force using
advanced military technology and brute force.
They underestimated the power of the tribal groups of
this region.
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Each new invader brought new religious beliefs.
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Losses: Geography and tribal infrastructure.
The Soviets
• USSR invades Afghanistan to support the
communist government against Northern
India.
• The US helps the Mujahadeen overthrow the
USSR – why?
• 1979 was during the Cold
War, a time when the USA
was a rival to the Soviet
Union. The USA wanted to
help Afghans fight the
Soviets.
• The CIA sent stinger
missiles to Afghans to shoot
down Soviet helicopters.
Mujahadeen“The Freedom Fighters”
-Using guerilla tactics, Mujahedeen fighters destroyed both military and
civilian targets like bridges, roads and buildings.
- They assassinated key military and political leaders.
New Opportunities for the Mujahedeen

While the money and training Afghan rebels received from places
like the U.S., Great Britain and Saudi Arabia made a big difference it
was not the most lasting effect of this war.
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
had many lasting effects.

1). Some of these include: Nearly 1.5 million undetonated land mines.
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Some statistics say that up to 1 in every 5 children have lost a limb to unexploded mines and
artillery. Mines shaped like toys.
2). Afghanistan has the distinct honor of having one of the highest numbers of orphans
in any country. This is a result of nearly constant war since 1979.
Life expectancy is 45 years.
Lasting effects of the Soviet Invasion
3). A generation of Afghan children orphaned by the
war with little guidance, education or support.
The Result: A perfect place to be recruited by groups
like the Taliban and Al Qaeda (Madrassas)
Lasting Effects of the Soviet Invasion
4). The Birth of Global Jihad
The single most lasting effect of the invasion by the Soviet Union
was the gathering of Islamic fighters to the cause of defending
their version of Islam.
The Fight for Control of Afghanistan
After the final Soviet troops left in 1989, the battle for who would run
Afghanistan began.
Rise of the Taliban
According to our experts on the Taliban, it was during this time that the various Mujahedeen fighters saw an
opportunity to spread their control over Afghanistan.
Battle Royale for Control of Afghanistan!
The Northern Alliance
The Taliban
VS.
Ahmed Shah Masood
Mullah Omar
Rise of the Taliban
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From the withdrawal of the Soviet army in 1989
until the Taliban (some were former Mujahadeen)
take control of the capital Kabul, the nation was
thrown into yet another period of destruction.

In September of 1996 the Taliban became the
official government of Afghanistan. They threw out
the existing constitution and established strict
Sharia Law.
Life under the Taliban

According to The Encyclopedia of the Muslim World ,edited by Richard C.
Martin “The Taliban enjoyed great support of the population of Afghanistan
following decades of endless fighting.”
According to the NY Times reporter Amy Pines

“Under the Taliban regime, Sharia Law was interpreted to ban a wide variety of activities
hitherto lawful in Afghanistan: employment, education and sports for women, movies, television,
videos, music, dancing, hanging pictures in homes, clapping during sports events, kite flying,
and beard trimming.” “Life under the Taliban” Pines. NY Times, Nov. 23 2001.
One Taliban list of prohibitions included:
pork, pig, pig oil, anything made from human hair, satellite dishes, cinematography, and equipment that produces the joy of
music, pool tables, chess, masks, alcohol, tapes, computers, VCRs, television, anything that propagates sex and is full of music,
wine, lobster, nail polish, firecrackers, statues, sewing catalogs, pictures, Christmas cards. [11]
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Theft was punished by the amputation of a hand, rape and murder by public
execution. Married adulterers were stoned to death. In Kabul, punishments
were carried out in front of crowds in the city's former soccer stadium.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/taliban/life-under-the-taliban
Taliban’s Islam
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Women covered in full
covering, a Chadri.
No education for girls.
Global Jihad
Focus on destruction of all
things modern and western,
or even other Muslim
countries that communicate
with non-Muslim countries.
The desire to return to the
“golden era” of Islam (the
1400’s)
Everyone Else’s Islam
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Head covered, a Hijab.
Internal Jihad
According to the Averroes
Foundation “Developing in
the modern world,
developing relationships
with other nations, being a
citizen of the world”
What is al-Qaeda?
• Al Qaeda is a stateless (meaning without a
country) terrorist organization.
• It is led and financed by Osama bin Laden, a
radical Shi’a Muslim.
When did al-Qaeda form?
• The beginnings of al-Qaeda go back to 1979
when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
The Birth of Al Qaeda

During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan Osama
Bin Laden played a huge role in recruiting young
Muslim fighters to the cause of global jihad.
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While he participated in few actual battles in
Afghanistan, Bin Laden became known for his
generous funding of the jihad against the Soviets.
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While the Taliban wanted only Afghanistan for their
own, Bin Laden had dreams of spreading this
movement all around the world.
Bin Laden in Afghanistan
• Son of a wealthy Saudi
Arabian family, Osama
bin Laden made lots of
like-minded friends.
• He learned that scantilyarmed Muslims could
defeat a powerful army
• The Soviet army left in
1989.
US and Saudi coalition
• The United States asked the Saudis for permission to
establish military bases in their country. The Saudis
have a tough choice to make. Do they allow a
Christian army into the holiest country of Islam? Can
the Saudis themselves stop Saddam Hussein?
Saudi’s choice
• Osama bin Laden was back home from Afghanistan.
He offered the Saudis the use of his soldiers to fight
the Iraqi army because once America establishes a
base, they won’t leave. Christian armies have no
place in the land of Islam.
Al Qaeda’s early efforts
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1993- First bombing of the World Trade Center
1998- Bombing of 2 U.S. embassies in Kenya and
Tanzania, killing 200 and injuring 5000.
2000- Bombing of the U.S.S Cole in Yemen, killing
17 sailors
Bin Laden Returns to Afghanistan
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Following growing pressure from the international
community, Sudan forces Bin Laden to leave.
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He returns to Afghanistan in 1996 to a country
completely under the control of the Taliban.
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It is here that Bin Laden planned the September
11th attack.
U.S. Prepares for Invasion
Following the attacks on September 11, 2001 President Bush gave the
Taliban an ultimatum.
“Deliver Al Qaeda’s leadership located within the borders of
Afghanistan”
He added “You will hand over the terrorist or you will share their fate”
- NY Times Oct. 1, 2001
- President Bush was later criticized for taking troops and resources
from the War in Afghanistan to fight the War in Iraq.
Operation Enduring Freedom
• In October of 2001 U.S. led forces, along with support from
nearly 42 other nations, enters Afghanistan.
Goals in Afghanistan
• The U.S. and its allies had 3 main goals for
Operation Enduring Freedom
1). Capture those responsible for the
planning of the September 11th
attacks
Accused 9/11 Mastermind to Face Civilian Trial in
N.Y.
By Charlie Savage
Published: November 13, 2009
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said
Friday that it would prosecute Khaled Sheik Mohammed,
the self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, in a
Manhattan federal courtroom, a decision that ignited a sharp
political debate but took a step toward resolving one of the
most pressing terrorism detention issues.
Will Al Qaeda disappear if Osama
Bin Laden is captured? Or Dies?
Goal #2
Remove the Taliban from power so
Afghanistan would no longer be a safe
haven for terrorist organizations.
Goal #3
Help the cause of Democracy
in Afghanistan.
What happens in a Democracy?
1). Free and Fair Elections
Since 2004 there have been two Presidential Elections in Afghanistan
But were they fair?
Where is Osama bin Laden now?
Alexander the great
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v250/technotut/arx%20makedonia/alexander-the-great-mosaic.jpg
British Invasion
http://www.friedgold.co.uk/battles.html
Mujahadeen
http://www.us-foreign-policy-perspective.org/uploads/RTEmagicC_sovietunion-afghanistan-muj.jpg.jpg
Amputee
http://photos.upi.com/slideshow/lbox/275d38842f05b59835c3115218ec9632/Mine-Stricken.jpg
Freedom Fighter
Courtesy of Erwin Lux, private Flickr account.
Young Taliban Fighter
http://www.rawa.org/darkdays/wahdat3.jpg
Masood
http://tharax.blogspot.com/2009/01/warlord-ropui-ahmed-shah-masood.html
Mullah Omar
http://mydailyclarity.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/taliban-leader-mullah-omar.jpg
Blackhawk
http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/2002/images/BlackHawkDown3.jpg
World Trade Center
http://preparednesspro.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/the-next-9-11.jpg
George Bush
http://topics.myfoxboston.com/national-news/world/george-bush.htm
U.S. Invasion
Time magazine
KSM
http://blogs.abcnews.com/.m/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/13/howtheciabro_mn.jpg
Bin Laden
http://blogs.abcnews.com/.m/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/13/howtheciabro_mn.jpg
Holbrooke
http://talkhaaba.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/44140130_12726383001_0215dvs-holbrooke-afghanistan-sj-plus1.jpg
Karzai
http://update.unu.edu/images/43karzai.jpg