| ar in Afghanistan | | | | note that during that time period the United States was |
| Once the communist government of Afghanistan fell in | | | | a huge supporter of the resistance of Afghanistan. |
| the year 1992, a civil war was being fought between | | | | They helped to set up in Pakistan, schools for refugee |
| various groups of fighters, the Mujahdeen, who were | | | | children that ironically turned into a place for the |
| ant-communist. It was in this chaotic realm that Mullah | | | | radicals of Islam to train. |
| Mohammed Omar became a leader of a new fighting | | | | The Conflict in Afghanistan Today |
| group. He called them the “Taliban.” | | | | After the terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda on September |
| The Taliban | | | | 11th, 2001 on the U.S. Pentagon and the New York City |
| The word Taliban translates to | | | | World Trade Center, the United States under the |
| “student.” Many of Omar’s first | | | | leadership of President George Bush began the |
| recruits were students of Islam. Those members of | | | | campaign called “Operation Enduring |
| the Taliban were also part of the ethnic group the | | | | Freedom” a conflict with Afghanistan. The war |
| Pashtun and they were seeking to impose their | | | | in Iraq later on distracted the carrying out of the goals |
| version of Islamic law on the country. They were | | | | in Afghanistan and the fugitive Osama bin Laden is still |
| extremists to put it mildly. Under the laws of the | | | | at large. Many argue that the U.S. should never have |
| Taliban women could not go to school nor could they | | | | engaged in conflict in Iraq, but instead should have |
| work outside of their homes. | | | | focused all their military might to finishing what was |
| The men had to grow beards and regularly attend | | | | begun in Afghanistan. |
| religious services and those that belonged to a religious | | | | Currently many of those members of the United |
| minority had to wear clothing that identified them as | | | | States government are calling for an end to the Iraq |
| non-Islamic. No television, no statues or idols that were | | | | conflict in order to focus all the military’s |
| not Islamic were allowed. These artifacts were | | | | attentions on finishing what was started with the |
| destroyed resulting in the destruction of many valuable | | | | campaign “Operation Enduring |
| ancient relics. | | | | Freedom.” Many of the citizens of the United |
| Osama Bin Laden & the Taliban | | | | States agree with this assessment as more than 10 |
| The new Taliban rule under Omar attracted many | | | | billion dollars a month is going towards these conflicts. |
| other extremists and one of these was Osama bin | | | | The only goal reached in Iraq was getting rid of |
| Laden. He was the leader of the terrorist group called | | | | Saddam Hussein. The government is still not stable and |
| al-Qaeda. As a wealthy Saudi Arabian son, he decided | | | | doesn’t appear to be so any time soon. |
| to help and financially support the Taliban ruled | | | | Afghanistan is supposedly where Osama bin Laden |
| government. | | | | has been hiding out and for many Americans capturing |
| Osama bin Laden’s history with Afghanistan | | | | the man responsible for the deaths of more than 3000 |
| dates back to the invasion of the Soviets in the year | | | | Americans in a most vicious terrorist attack is much |
| 1979. He supported the jihad that was part of the | | | | more important than what the military is trying to |
| resistance against the Soviets and it was an ironic | | | | accomplish in Iraq. |