United States presence in SW

Asia: Iran, Persian Gulf Conflicts

in Iraq, Afghanistan.
http://www.vendian.org/mncharity/dir3/afghan_map/
How big is Afghanistan?
History
Independent Afghan monarchy was established in 1926.
1973- Afghanistan's king was overthrown by his cousin who declared a
republic with himself was the president.
1978- hes assassinated and replaced with a communist-leaning government.

The Soviet-Afghan War 1979- The Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to

support the Communist Partys push for power to take over as much land as
possible.
The side that fights against the communists???
Islamic Fundamentalist Group, supported by the United States. (missiles, money, etc.)
Mujahedeen
(Osama Bin Laden is a part of this group)- 1989- Soviets withdraw from Afghanistan leading to the
rise of the Afghani Taliban
The Rise of the Afghani Taliban
Taliban- a group of Islamic militants that became popular with many Afghan
people. Many Afghan people initially supported the Taliban. The Afghan
people hoped that returning to traditional customs of their ancient land
would erase the unhappiness of past violence.
1996- the Taliban had gained control of much of Afghanistan.
They ruled Afghanistan according to very strict Islamic law. People whom the Taliban
believed violated the laws were given harsh public punishments. They outlawed
television, radios, & even kite-flying!
Womens rights were severely restricted: no jobs, cant see male doctors who arent in
their immediate family, cant be seen in public without coverings
 The Taliban
The Taliban also angered
other countries by
allowing suspected
terrorists to live and train
in Afghanistan. Among
them were Osama bin
Laden and members of
his terrorist organization,
al-Qaeda.
 Al-Qaeda
Osama Bin Laden led
Taliban
Sunni Islamic group
terrorist organization Ruled Afghanistan from
Goal- to bring an end to 1996-2001
western (US) influence in
the Middle East Allowed Osama Bin
Responsible for 9/11 Laden and his Al-Qaeda
terrorist attacks on the network to train and hide
U.S. in Afghanistan after 9/11.
September 11, 2001
Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda
network, sought to use terrorism to
drive the U.S. out of the Middle East.
On September 11, 2001, members of
the Al Qaeda network hijacked four
planes, crashing two into the World
Trade Center Towers in New York,
one into the Pentagon, and one, as
the passengers fought for control of
the plane, into a field in Pennsylvania
killing 2,996 people.
 At the time, Al Qaeda and its central
leadership was based out of Afghanistan
and was being protected by the Afghani
Taliban Government.
The U.S. lent its support to rebel
groups in Afghanistan in 2001 in order
to overthrow the Taliban and capture
Osama bin Laden.
While the initial invasion was
successful in overthrowing the Taliban,
the Taliban continues to fight against
the new Afghani government today &
Osama bin Laden was not captured in
Afghanistan but remained at large for
eight years until he was killed in Pakistan.
 The U.S. is involved in the
Middle East to disrupt terrorist
groups.