In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. They then started a 10 year war which lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union along with the emergence of Islamic guerrilla fighters. In response to this invasion, President Carter expressed shock and outrage. By then the Soviet Union realized that their armies had little use in Afghanistan as the people were more loyal to ethnic leaders than government leaders. They had realized it was hard to rule and even near impossible to conquer completely. The new guerrilla fighters were able to fight off all of the Soviet Union's attacks except helicopters. There is an old saying that said, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" (arabian origin) in this case America's new friend was the guerrilla fighters or as they called themselves the Mujahedeen. In 1986 the USA and a few allies began to help the Mujahedeen by supplying them with weapons and troops. Finally the Soviet Union gave up and left Afghanistan.
This war killed more than 1.5 million Afghans, most civilians. Meanwhile, other communist regimes began to crumble such as Poland and east Germany. The leader of the soviets told the 15 republics to elect their own governments, beginning the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Back in Afghanistan chaos ruled. Now that the Soviet Union was gone the different groups of the mujahedeen were fighting each other for supreme power. From this chaos the Taliban emerged. The Taliban were a group of well educated men who only knew of the Koran. The Taliban were welcome at first, the people thinking they would bring peace but as they became more repressive people began to fear them. By 1996 the Taliban were in control of the entire country.
One of the most powerful of the Taliban groups was Al Qaeda. Numerous terrorist attacks that were committed increased by many. One of the most known was the the airplane attacks on the World Trade Center and the pentagon. American troops have been trying to rid the country from the Taliban ever since.
This war killed more than 1.5 million Afghans, most civilians. Meanwhile, other communist regimes began to crumble such as Poland and east Germany. The leader of the soviets told the 15 republics to elect their own governments, beginning the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Back in Afghanistan chaos ruled. Now that the Soviet Union was gone the different groups of the mujahedeen were fighting each other for supreme power. From this chaos the Taliban emerged. The Taliban were a group of well educated men who only knew of the Koran. The Taliban were welcome at first, the people thinking they would bring peace but as they became more repressive people began to fear them. By 1996 the Taliban were in control of the entire country.
One of the most powerful of the Taliban groups was Al Qaeda. Numerous terrorist attacks that were committed increased by many. One of the most known was the the airplane attacks on the World Trade Center and the pentagon. American troops have been trying to rid the country from the Taliban ever since.