War in Afghanistan, War in Iraq Unit 3- Contemporary History

 Capital of Afghanistan transferred from Kandahar to Kabul because of tribal fighting.  Constant internal fighting inside Afghanistan.  First Anglo-Afghan War. The British in India try to control Afghanistan, this war ended with the British force of 16,500 wiped out with only one survivor making it alive to a British fort in Jalalabad.

 Afghanistan is independent but the British take Baluchistan making Afghanistan a landlocked country.  Second Anglo-Afghan War. The British take some territories from Afghanistan and allows them to run their internal affairs but Britain handled Afghan Foreign Affairs.  Russia takes Afghan territory in the north.  Third Anglo-Afghan War. Afghanistan wins and gains full control of her Foreign Affairs.

Many power struggles as tribes try to obtain political power Muhammad Khan became King and tried to reform the country but was assassinated. United States formally recognizes Afghanistan, 1934.

1921 – 1950 cont… Many tribal leaders tried to unite Afghanistan but violence prevailed. Attempts at democracy failed. Britain withdraws from India, Pakistan is carved out of Indian and Afghan lands.

 Pakistan and Afghanistan come close to war over disputed lands.  Government instability leads to frequent riots and overthrows.  Daoud Khan and the Communist Afghan Party seize power and the Republic of Afghanistan is born in Internal problems with this party cause Daoud to be killed.

1950 – 1979 cont…  Mass arrests, tortures and violence become common place in Afghanistan.  The Afghan guerrilla group (Mujahideen) formed to fight and resist government that was backed by Communist Russia.  Mass killings and the murder of the U.S. Ambassador. Many human rights violations.

 Soviet Union invades Afghanistan with thousands of troops to support the government in its struggle with the holy warriors called Mujahideen.  Five million Afghan refugees flee to Pakistan and Iran.  The Soviets with superior weapons could not defeat the guerrilla tactics of the rebels.  In 1988 the Soviets began withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan.

1980 – 1994 cont…  Fighting between the government and the Mujahideen continued until 1992 when the rebels overthrew the government.  Fighting among the factions prevented the formation of a stable government.  By the late 1990’s a Islamic group known as the Taliban had taken control of most of Afghanistan and set up a Council of Ministers to rule the country.

The Taliban movement was formed in Kandahar in 1994 by Islamic students who take a radical approach to interpreting Islam. The Taliban captured Kabul in September 1996 from Mujaheedin regime. The government of Burhan-ul Din Rabani ousted. The Taliban government in Kabul has been recognized only by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Republic. The Taliban regime strongly have been supported by Pakistani military regime.

1994 – 1999 cont… Anti-Taliban factions still hold about 15 percent of the country in the northern parts of Afghanistan. The United Nations and other international communities condemn the Taliban regime because of its violation of human rights, particularly restrictions of women from outside work and freedom.

1994 – 1999 cont… On October 10, 1999, the United States government declare political and economical sanctions against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan – Due to holding and supporting Saudi billionaire Bin Laden. October 25, 1999, Taliban offer talks between Afghanistan and the US Government including the future of Osma Bin Laden. October 28, Saudi Millionaire declared his desire to leave Afghanistan November, 5, 1999: Bin Laden likely stay in Afghanistan

Taliban Rule Between fighting, refugees have returned to homes burned and destroyed by the Taliban. The United Nations has accused the Taliban of burning homes and crops to keep Afghan refugees from returning home. Taliban isolated Afghanistan from the world The Taliban Taliban Justice

Today Mohammed Omar, Taliban leader, continues to give aid and comfort to the terrorist Bin Lauden. September 11, Al Qaeda forces of Bin Laden attack the United States. United States and her allies declare war on terrorism.

2000 – Today cont… Taliban Government driven into hiding, many Taliban and Al Quaeda forces killed or captured by the United States and her allies. The Taliban grip on Afghanistan and support for Bin Laden has ended.

2000- Today cont… Feb. 11, 2003: Al-Jazeera broadcasts an audiotape of bin Laden calling on Iraqis to carry out suicide attacks against U.S. forces. Washington calls it evidence of an alliance between al-Qaida and Saddam Hussein. March 20, 2003: The U.S. invades Iraq.

2000- Today cont… Sept. 10, 2003: Al-Jazeera airs a videotape that appears to show a gaunt bin Laden walking with his second-in- command, Egyptian Ayman al-Zawahiri, through mountainous terrain. – The two men refer to the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Dec. 13, 2003: Saddam Hussein is captured. He is brought to trial under the Iraqi interim government. – On Nov , he is convicted of charges related to the 1982 killing of 148 Iraqi Shi’ites and was sentenced to death by hanging. Saddam is executed on Dec. 30, 2006.

2000- Today cont… March 11, 2004: Ten bombs go off almost simultaneously in trains carrying commuters into Madrid. The attacks kill 190 people and wound about 2,000. April 15, 2004: In a purported tape of bin Laden, the speaker offers a truce to European nations that decide not to “interfere” in Muslim nations but rules out any such deal for the U.S. May 7, 2004: A recorded message attributed to bin Laden offers 10 kg of gold to anyone who kills the U.S. administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, or U.N. Secretary- General Kofi Annan.

2000- Today cont… Oct. 29, 2004: A videotape surfaces days before the U.S. presidential election in which bin Laden admits responsibility for Sept. 11 and threatens new attacks on the U.S. July 7, 2005: Four explosions strike London’s public transportation system, killing more than 35 people and wounding at least 700. Jan. 19, 2006: After more than a year of silence from bin Laden, a tape purportedly recorded by the al-Qaida leader warns that a new wave of terror attacks are in preparation. – It also offers a truce to the U.S. if it withdraws from Afghanistan and Iraq

2000- Today cont… Feb. 20, 2006: A new, more complete version of the Jan. 19 tape appears on a militant website in Egypt. In it, bin Laden vows never to be captured alive. May 24, 2006: A message purported to be from bin Laden claims that Zacarias Moussaoui, the only man convicted in the U.S. in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks, had nothing to do with the plot. – Moussaoui was sentenced to six consecutive life terms for not telling the FBI about the plot.

2000- Today cont… June 30, 2006: An audiotape purported to be from bin Laden eulogizes Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike on June 7. January 2010: An audiotape allegedly from bin Laden claims responsibility for an attempt to blow up a plane en route to Michigan on Christmas Day 2009, and it warns the U.S. of more attacks. May 1, 2011: bin Laden is killed in a U.S. raid on his compound in Pakistan

Iraq… Why? 3 choices… – Weapons of Mass destruction – Links to Al-Queda and terrorists – Oil? Other personal interests?