Afghan- Soviet War
& background to 9/11
attacks
Soviet Union & Afghanistan War leads to
Attack on the U.S. in 2001
Afghanistan bordered the USSR
In order to understand Osama Bin Laden and why he attacked the U.S. in 2001,
we must begin with a conversation of the country of Afghanistan!
The Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979!
Soviet- Afghan
War!
Before the Soviet Invasion
of Afghanistan, Kabul and
the country of Afghanistan
was modern and
developed!
Kabul, Afghanistan before
the Soviet War
Soviet Invaded
Afghanistan 1979
 People of Afghanistan
begin to fight against
Soviet Invasion!
 A call for Muslims
throughout the world to
help the Afghan’s fight
against “atheists”
Soviets!
 Osama Bin Laden goes
to Afghanistan to help
fight against the
Soviets!
Reagan calls the Soviets
the Evil Empire!
 Reagan does not use our
military to help the Afghans,
he uses the CIA..
 He convinces Congress to
spend $100 billion in his first
5 years of office on military
spending.
 Reagan calls the Soviets the
“Evil Empire” for invading
Afghanistan.
U.S. & Bin Laden on same
side of the war…

Pres. Reagan calls in the CIA!

The CIA helped the Afghan
rebels, Mujahideen fight
against the Soviet Union.

In the 1980’s the Soviet Union
is our enemy (Cold War).

Operation Cyclone

The CIA, the Mujahideen and
Osama bin Laden are all on
the same side of the war
against the Soviets!
Osama Bin Laden
went to Afghanistan
to fight against the
Soviets!
 Osama Bin Laden
helped the Afghan,
mujahideen, for many
years in the war.
 Osama bin Laden is
considered to be a
“hero” for his efforts
during the Afghanistan
Soviet war!
Afghan fighters?
Mujahideen
 Many Muslims from all
over come to help the
Afghanistan
mujahideen.
 Osama Bin Laden
financed and fought
with the mujahideen.
What did Osama
do in
Afghanistan!
Hero!
 Raised money in Saudi
Arabia
 Fought with the
Afghani rebel fighters
(mujahideen)
 Built roads, homes and
supported widows of
the war
 1989 he returns to
Saudi Arabia as a
“hero”
8 years of fighting and the
Soviets lose the war…
 Soviet Vietnam, large world
power is defeated!
 1988- After 8 years of brutal
fighting the Soviets know
they can’t win and withdraw
from Afghanistan.
 About a 1.5 million Afghans
were killed during the war
 6 million refugees in
Pakistan & Iran
Civil War in
Afghanistan 19891996
Soviet Union leaves Afghanistan
Osama Bin Laden leaves Afghanistan
CIA leaves Afghanistan
Civil War breaks out in the
country….Taliban & Northern
Alliance-Warlords fight for control of
country
Taliban wins the war …. Establishing
a brutal, oppressive government in war
torn country of Afghanistan.
Life under rule of
Taliban
Forced to wear the Burqa!
 Banned television,
media and all western
music
 Women not allowed to
work, no education
after age of 8.
 Public executions
without trials.
 Public floggings,
stoning of women or
anyone against the
Taliban
Kabul, Afghanistan
1994
 Photographer Seamus Murphy, of VII Photo Agency
Afghanistan after
decades of war!
Soviets invaded
Afghanistan 1989!
 Her village had been
bombed and her family
killed during Soviet War
 Photographer took her
picture. 12 Years old.
 Afghan refugee fleeing to
Pakistan & refugee camp.
Years of War in
Afghanistan
1983
17 years later