1. AFGHANISTAN

2. BACKGROUND Historically, Afghanistan fought the British colonialists for its independence Ruled by a shah, or king, from 1933- 1973 Communists took control in 1978 Multi ethnic, multi lingual country 85% Sunni Muslim, 15% Shia Muslim

3. SOVIET INVASION To protect the communist government, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 There was a bloody war from 1979- 1989 During this time, the United States sent billions in cash and weapons to the mujahedeen fighters battling the Soviet Union

4. CIVIL WAR After the Soviet Union withdrew, the country fell into civil war After time, a group called the Taliban grew in power and controlled most of the country The Taliban were mostly from the Pashtun ethnic group, had fought against the Soviet Union, most were uneducated and impoverished

5. TALIBAN RULE Under the Taliban, women:  Must wear a burqa outside their home  Must wear a burqa inside if a male is present  May not attend school  Must do all the household chores  Must not talk or laugh in public  Must not travel without a man or a man’s permission For all people:  No TV  No toys  No music  No photographs  No clapping  No dancing  No computers

6. BUDDHAS OF BAMIYAN Huge, ancient carvings of Buddha in Afghanistan In March 2001, the Taliban blew the statues up, saying they encouraged the worship of idols

7. AL QAEDA Beginning in 1996, Afghanistan began to provide a haven and training ground for Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden Al Qaeda is an extremist, Sunni Muslim terrorist group Taliban troops trained alongside of Al Qaeda

8. POST 9/11 After 9/11, the USA demanded bin Laden be handed over and Afghanistan stop providing a haven for al-Qaeda The Taliban refused, and the USA invaded Afghanistan Bush Doctrine: The USA would preemptively attack countries that supported and harbored terrorists

9. 2001 TO PRESENT The United States enlisted the help of the groups that fought against the Taliban, and initially beat them back In recent years, the Taliban has made a comeback, helped by allies in Pakistan The Taliban controls territory on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border

10. CONTINUING ISSUES Stopping Taliban advances and preserving democracy and freedom Afghanistan produces most of the world’s opium, which is refined into heroin Afghanistan sits atop $1 trillion worth of mineral resources A proposed oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea through Afghanistan to the Indian Ocean