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Afghanistan At Peace
The New York Times reminices to a time when Afghanistan was at peace saying, "Three decades ago, Afghanistan was a stable, relatively prosperous community and relatively secular country" (2). -
Soviet Invasion Corrupts the Nation
When the Soviet troops moved in, they "...stayed in the country for more than nine years, fighting a conflict that cost them roughly 15,000 lives and undisclosed billions of rubles, while undermining he cherished image of the invinsible Soviet Army" (2). -
Taliban Seize Control
Through the help of Pakistan, "...the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan, imposing strict enforcement of fundementalist Islamic law, banning movies and music and forcing women out of schools and into all-enveloping burqa clothing"(3). -
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Warring With Afghanistan
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From the Beginning
The initial violent exchanges between the U.S. and Afghanistan were what would soon morph into years at war; The New York Times writes, "The United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led an invasion after the Sep. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda" (1). -
After September 11, 2001
In attempts to avoid war with Afghanistan, "...President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden"(3). -
Karzai as Chairman
Mr. Karzai wanted to help the nation, and restabalize Afghanistan, so "[h]e took office as interim president in June 2002, saying he hoped to secure peace for Afghanistan and win the country much-needed international aid" (3). -
Afghanistan: The Central Focus
Obama wanted the main focus to be on Afghanistan, and greatly increased numbers, "...drawing troops out of Iraq and increasing the number in Afghanistan by almost 50,000" (1). -
Taliban Regaining Power
After American troops thought the Taliban had been supressed, their attention was needed in Iraq giving the Taliban the opportunity to "...regroup[] and beg[i]n to extend its influence in the southern part of Afghanistan" (3). -
Obama Battles the Taliban
In efforts to further diminish the Taliban, "...Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops" (4). -
The Return Home For Troops
The Obama administration continuously presses that, "[t]hough initial plans called for American combat forces to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan in the summer of 2011...the United States will have forces in the country until at least the end of 2014, when it intends to pass responsibility for security to the Afghan government" (1).