The Afghanistan Invasion

The History of Afghanistan

Afghanistan Demographics Kabual is the Capital of Afghanistan The Main Languages: Persian (Darf) Pashto The Main Religion is Islam 80% is Sunni 19% is Shi’a Population is about 31 million people 0-14 years is about 44.6% 15-64 years is about 53% 65 years and older is about 2.6% Life Expectancy is about 46 years

Afghanistan 1747-1973 Monarchy ruled Afghanistan from 1747- 1973 The present day borders were established in the late 1800’s by the British and Russians. In 1973 a military coup (military take over) seized power and Mohammad Sardar Daoud Khan became the first President of Afghanistan

Afghanistan 1973 -1978 Republic of Afghanistan is formed Bad droughts and economic problems face Afghanistan during this time In 1978 Daoud was killed and Taraki, who took over as the president and implemented a Marxists régime

Afghanistan 1979 - 1989 Russians invade Afghanistan and the Afghanistan War is kicked off Russia sent over 100,000 troops during this time The Mujahidin “Islamic Warriors” were born The US backed the Mujahidin with weapons, training, and supplies to fight the Russians. This would ultimately help in the defeat of the Russian Army. In 1988 the Russian President ordered the withdrawal of all Soviet troops from Afghanistan At the end of the war, Afghanistan suffered a large numbers of human deaths and a economic crisis US pulls all funding to Afghanistan

Afghanistan 1989 – 2001 Mujahidin continues to fight any type of government for Afghanistan and eventually take over The Mujahidin turn into the terrorist group called the Taliban. Taliban rule from the mid 1990’s until 2001 After September 11, 2001 US declares war on the Taliban for being a known terrorist group that help with the attacks on the US and also for harboring such terrorist groups as Al-Queda “The Base” which carried out the attacks against the US

Afghanistan 2001 - present The US and their Allies went into Afghanistan in November 2001 and started eradicating (or taking out) the Taliban, Al-Queda, and other terrorist groups. In December 2001 Hamid Karzai was put as the countries interim President. He is still currently the President of Afghanistan The US and their Allies are still looking for Osma Bin Laden and Mullah Muhammad Omar Since the US and their Allies have been there, they have built schools, hospitals, houses, and give have helped give rights back to both men and women

What’s happening today? Currently President Barack Obama has sent an additional 13,000 troops into Afghanistan.

What other wars has the U.S. been involved with in the Middle East? Before you click on the mouse again discuss with your neighbor what three wars has the U.S. been involved with in the Middle East? Persian Gulf War (1991) War in Afghanistan (2001) Iraq War (2003) Bonus: Can you list them in order?

U.S. Involvement in the Middle East Persian Gulf War In 1990, Iraq invaded the small, but oil rich country of Kuwait. On January 16, 1991 the Persian Gulf War began. The international community, including the United States, began missile attacks on Iraq. 100 hours later, Iraq surrendered. The U.N. –imposed embargo remained in effect.

U.S. Involvement in the Middle East War with Iraq George Bush Jr. believed Saddam Hussein was hiding nuclear weapons. The international community agreed, but the United Nations did not agree with an invasion. Regardless, Great Britain, Australia, and other allies including the United States – invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003. Only recently have troops from the U.S. withdrawn from Iraq.