Afghanistan
Level A- "The Cold War forced the world to align with a superpower ideologically, economically, or militarily." This claim demonstrates how after WWII, Russia began its massive spread of communism and this spread reached far across the globe. Either through peaceful policies or violent military invasion, communism swept through areas such as the Middle East and into countries like Afghanistan. When Soviet Troops reached Afghanistan, thousands of Russians stormed into the country, forcing the ideas of communism through military force. A resistance group, called mujahideen, was eventually able to drive out the communist invaders and prevent their communist influence from spreading into Afghanistan.
Level B- "The superpower intervention of the Cold War was simply a replacement of the colonialism that came before." Because of its lack of colonization, Russia had a significant lack of imported resources, especially after WWII. Now, with its new government, communism, spreading its influence had turned into the only logical action. The lack of colonies from Russia had left the rest of the world to gain even more unclaimed land so one of Russia’s few choices was to intervene into the instability of other countries. A civil war in Afghanistan had made for a perfect opportunity to swiftly invade and align the country to Russia’s side of the Cold War. But as the resistance group, the mujahideen, fought for government control, it also resisted the Soviet Army. After years of fighting, the resistance groups, now know as the Taliban, took control of both the government and the country, after the swift, brutal guerrilla tactics that turned the tide of battle in the Taliban’s favor. Even though invading other countries and spreading the influence of communism would be a sound replacement for colonization, it did not go well, especially in Afghanistan for Russia, although these invasions and interventions worked in other regions of the world.
Level C- "National self interest drives diplomacy." This claim connects to Afghanistan, because the nation was able to relate to the United State's political views. Both nations believed democratic and republic governments were most suitable. These particular governments allowed freedom rights as well as social classes. The majority of Afghanistan was anti-communist contradicting with Russia's views. The Soviet Union invasion caused Afghanistan resist to the attack and communism. Communist nations claim all are equal while the government possess all economic and political power. Afghanistan was aware of the complication and wanted their nation to be run in a republic. Since the United States was against communism they assisted in providing weapons to the insurgency groups to drive the nation into fighting back.
Level B- "The superpower intervention of the Cold War was simply a replacement of the colonialism that came before." Because of its lack of colonization, Russia had a significant lack of imported resources, especially after WWII. Now, with its new government, communism, spreading its influence had turned into the only logical action. The lack of colonies from Russia had left the rest of the world to gain even more unclaimed land so one of Russia’s few choices was to intervene into the instability of other countries. A civil war in Afghanistan had made for a perfect opportunity to swiftly invade and align the country to Russia’s side of the Cold War. But as the resistance group, the mujahideen, fought for government control, it also resisted the Soviet Army. After years of fighting, the resistance groups, now know as the Taliban, took control of both the government and the country, after the swift, brutal guerrilla tactics that turned the tide of battle in the Taliban’s favor. Even though invading other countries and spreading the influence of communism would be a sound replacement for colonization, it did not go well, especially in Afghanistan for Russia, although these invasions and interventions worked in other regions of the world.
Level C- "National self interest drives diplomacy." This claim connects to Afghanistan, because the nation was able to relate to the United State's political views. Both nations believed democratic and republic governments were most suitable. These particular governments allowed freedom rights as well as social classes. The majority of Afghanistan was anti-communist contradicting with Russia's views. The Soviet Union invasion caused Afghanistan resist to the attack and communism. Communist nations claim all are equal while the government possess all economic and political power. Afghanistan was aware of the complication and wanted their nation to be run in a republic. Since the United States was against communism they assisted in providing weapons to the insurgency groups to drive the nation into fighting back.
Overview
- The Mujahideen revolts against Afghan communists
- The Soviet Union invades Afganistan in 1979 to help the communists fight the rebels
- The USSR controls the cities, but the Mujahideen controls the country side and fights using guerrilla warfare
- The USA sent weapons to the Mujahideen
- Osama bin Laden and other muslims seeking jihad went to Afghanistan to fight with the islamic Mujahideen rebels
- The Mujahideen forced the USSR to withdraw their troops in 1989
- The Mujahideen defeated the Afghan communists in1992
- Osama bin Laden forms Al Qaeda
- Many Mujahideen become Taliban
- The Taliban wins the civil war for control of Afghanistan in 1996
- The Taliban allow Osama bin Laden to live in Afghanistan
- Al Qaeda attacks the World Trade Center and the Pentagon killing about 3000 people on 9/11/2001
- The USA invades Afghanistan when the Taliban do not give them Osama bin Laden
- The Taliban are ousted from power in Afghanistan
- First government officials elected since communists came to power
- The Taliban seek refuge in Pakistan
- They regroup and try to retake Afghanistan
- Afghanistan with help from the USA forces the Taliban to retreat bake to Pakistan
- The Taliban continues terrorist attacks against the Afghan government
- In 2011 Osama bin Laden is assassinated by navy seals in Pakistan
- The USA begins to withdraw its troops as Afghanistan takes more responsibility for protecting itself
Evidence
Primary Source
"To watch the courageous Afghan freedom fighters battle modern arsenals with simple hand-held weapons is an inspiration to those who love freedom."
-Ronald Reagan
Secondary Source
"A country ravaged by 30 years of civil wars, foreign invasions and raids by terrorist factions stands today in the rubble of its past glory, amid destroyed monuments, broken homes and battered faces weary of an unending war."
-Manam Iqbal (2010)
Literature Sources
"The Afghanistan Islamic society has created an image, of male dominance over females. Males are viewed as superior and only have the right to pursue careers. This was not always the case in Afghanistan, before 1996 women had the rights to work, dress how they pleased and most importantly be free. Today it is much different, women have no option but to relay on a man to live a life. Without a male figure women with even Ph.D.'s and high education status can be found begging for food from starvation (For the Women Of Afghanistan by Sheema Kalbsi.) Education is not a value to Afghanistan like it is in The United States, gender determines power over everything. Individuals prove to not be equal, which has severely affected many woman. This has resulted in many tragic endings to woman lives who can not cope with the gender inequality."
-Sheema Kalbsi, "For the Women Of Afghanistan"
Modern Day
Modern Day issues and connections to terrorism: The Afghanistan government faces multiple issues regarding political matters, first of all the government is opposed by the Taliban terrorist organization who threatens to overthrow the current system as of now, which is a constitutional monarchy. This uprising begun after The United States removed the Taliban as the governmental power of Afghanistan in 2002. During the Russia and Afghan war the United States provided assistance to Afghanistan. This is due to the fact The United States was against communism and wanted to prevent the spread of it throughout Middle East countries. The U.S. gave weapons to Afghanistan only providing more Afghan morale, eventually leading to the terrorist attack on New York. The leader of the terrorist attacks was Osama Bin Laden. He was enraged of the The United States presence after the war. He was able to manipulate Allah,the Muslim god, as away to get through to the Al-Qaeda and strike the United States. His motives for the attack was the foreign policy, he demanded to put a stop to it. Foreign policy can be described as the interaction of nations among the world with the goal to ensure security. The Connection to today and Post War is the fact that the Russia and Afghan War caused the fight against communism leading to the creation of the Taliban and the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The Taliban, who are Muslim extremists that commit jihads in defense of the Islamic religion, killing and injuring as many non Muslims as they can to rid the world of those who would oppose Allah. They are terrorists by definition, those who commit these acts only do so to lower the number of non Muslims in a violent way, and in doing so they plan to strike fear in those who are affected in the name of their religion. Terrorism is an issue that threatens the security of a nations civilians today and during the Post War. Nations still have leaders that desire power and taking control of neighboring countries. This is a cause of terrorist attacks occurrence world wide.
Made by Katie Furtado, Alec Rubenstien, James Boudreau III, and Noah Saulnier