1. Afghanistan Irregularly dominated by the British from 1839-1919, Afghanistan is still a largely tribal society especially in the rural regions Kipling’s Young British Soldier: “When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, And the women come out to cut up what remains, Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.” One of the poorest nations in the world

2. Soviet invasion In 1978 a Marxist government assumes control with support from the Soviets. The US begins to support rural, socially conservative opponents and by 1979 the government is overthrown December 1979, Soviets invade with 100,000 troops to back up their Marxist allies

3. US response US begins to support variety of groups that opposed Soviet invasion, some of those people will later be part of the Taliban The non-centralized Mujahideen based out of Pakistan, with support from Pakistani intelligence The Soviets will lose about 15,000 dead but will kill between 600,000 to 1 million Afghans

4. Post-Soviet Afghanistan Soviets withdraw in 1989 but leave behind a Afghan government that will last three more years against the fractured Mujahideen As fighting against the Soviet-backed government continues, the US withdraws its support The Taliban emerge as the strongest of the Mujahideen groups

5. Rise of Taliban By 2000, the Taliban have seized 95 percent of the country Women are banned from working, girls from attending school Movie theaters were closed and music was banned Osama Bin Laden moves to Afghanistan in 1996 and begins operating al Qaeda training camps