AP+Afghanistan

Afghanistan Background Term Historical (Sirtaj)

// Afghanistan is the crossroads of central Asia, connecting India, Asia, and the Middle East, and throughout its history, has had troublesome reigns. Several nations have had claims on Afghanistan as a nation, and have fought viciously to gain control over it. Adam Ritscher analyzes, “the nation had been ruled by various Persian, Greek, Sassasian and Central Asian empires. Following a subsequent break down in Arab rule, semi-independent states began to form. These local dynasties and states however were overwhelmed and crushed during the Mongolian invasions of the 1200s” (Ritscher). This is only the history of the country from the ninth century to the 1200s, and it is full of complete turmoil. As stated by the author, Afghanistan has been “ruled by Persian, Greek, Sassasian, and Central Asian empires”. Such turmoil has lead to short lived, problematic reigns of the nation. It has made it difficult for the people of Afghanistan to make a rule for themselves, and according to Ritscher, it did not occur until 1747. However, the communistic party in Afghanistan soon began to raise against the leaders of the nation. The U.S. Department of State relates, “On April 27, 1978, the PDPA initiated a bloody coup, which resulted in the overthrow and murder of Daoud and most of his family. Nur Muhammad Taraki, Secretary General of the PDPA, became President of the Revolutionary Council and Prime Minister of the newly established Democratic Republic of Afghanistan” (Background). Although the PDPA “established [a] Democratic Republic of Afghanistan”, the government followed Marxist ideals. This was a forced occupation, and the public did not wish to have this type of government. It was forced upon them from the PDPA, whom had the support of communistic Soviet Union. This created a great amount of turmoil within the country. The U.S. Department of State explains that this is due to the fact that the ideals forced upon the nation by the PDPA was against the beliefs of the Muslims within the country, which was most of the population. This continued until the withdrawal of Soviet Union’s occupation of Afghanistan, which was in 1989. Over a million lives were lost due to this, according to the U.S. Department of State from 1979. Although the Soviet Union left Afghanistan, the turmoil in the country has continued. //

// Works Cited // // Ritscher, Adam. "A Brief History of Afghanistan." Afgh angovernment.com//. Web. 2 February 2012 //"Background Note: Afghanistan." state.gov//. U.S. Department of State. 2011. Web. 2 February 2012

Audience (Afghanistan) Dylan Mercier 02/03/2012



The time frame of this book falls under era right before and during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Most the people living in Afghanistan at the time would have been there under religious pretenses; “Afghanistan is comprised of a variety of ethnic groups called Afghans, the overwhelming majority of whom are Muslim, usually either followers of Sunni or Shia Islam” (People of Afghanistan). Over the years the idea that Afghanistan is filled with people who are “followers of Sunni or Shia Islam” has not changed. That whole area of the Middle East has not changed in the fact that it draws on plenty of people of the Islamic and Mulish community. This areas if in a way the founding location of these respective religions and since then has not changed and remains to be one of the best places to go for people of these religious background have laws that support the Islamic religious code. During the time of Soviet occupation this place would have also become home to many anti-government related groups. Many of the people were “Motivated by the cruelty and stupidity of the USSR and the Marxist government, which had tried to reform agriculture and ended up causing famine, and which had ignored traditional power structures” (Afghanistan Under Soviet Rule). Due to this another smaller population found in Afghanistan are terrorist organizations that have “ignored traditional power structures” and moved into they own chaotic rule. This is the reason many militant groups like the Taliban have formed o because they feel the need to fight for the freedom of their people.

Citation

"Afghanistan Under Soviet Rule." //University of Colorado Boulder//. University of Colorado Boulder. Web. 03 Feb. 2012.

"Afghanistan's Web Site - The People of Afghanistan." //Afghanistan's Web Site: Afghanistan | Afghan | افغانستان//. Afghanistan Government. Web. 03 Feb. 2012

Michael Lagier

Afghanistan: Aim



Afghanistan was formed as a country focused on Islamic principles and also as a trade route. The country is an important land route for travel and trade between Asia, Southern Europe, and Africa. Afghanistan was created around those trade routes, but because of its location in a predominately Islamic region the country was formed with very strong Islamic belief system incorporated within every aspect of the country. Even when threatened, the people continued with their Islamic beliefs, shown through when the State Department states “ Despite attempts during the years of communist rule to secularize Afghan society, Islamic practices pervade all aspects of life” (Background Note: Afghanistan). Against all opposition, Afghanistan remained true to its purpose and refused to become a “secular” state, allowing Islam to “pervade” everything within the country. Afghanistan refused to become a buffer for Russia, reopening one of the major paths of which could be used to strike at the U.S.S.R. and keeping for all of its Muslim inhabitants the right to remain a Muslim and in their homeland. Afghanistan’s location also means that the people have to be very durable, and as a result it has become a country for those accustomed to tough living, and even though the U.S.S.R. tried to take over, “ The USSR withdrew in 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supported anti-Communist mujahedin rebels” (Afghanistan). Despite the U.S.S.R.’s attempts to force the people into accepting Soviet Occupation, “mujahedin rebels” used their faith as a rallying point and central to their revolution. Afghanistan has always been a place for the Islamic Faith, and it has always been a major and well desired road, and in the end that has been the cause of both strife and a rallying point for the people in the country.

Works Cited //Afghanistan//. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 2 February 2012.

//Background Note: Afghanistan//. U.S. Department of State. 8 November 2011. Web. 2 February 2012

Denison Spencer

Cultural Impact



Afghanistan, located in the center of Asia, has served as a place of migration, trade and transport, as long ago as 50,000 BC. This global position set the nation to get caught up in conflict with surrounding nations as well as world powers struggling for more control. In the late 1900s, Afghanistan found itself at the center of a conflict between the empires of Great Britain and Russia. “Russia was in great need of warm water ports, and one of the possibilities considered was through India to the Indian Ocean, a route that involved Afghanistan,” (Western Powers). After decades of continuous conflict, Afghanistan gained sovereign control over itself, from Britain. While the country was able to free itself from conflict with other nations, it continued to deal with the issue of uniting the multiethnic peoples of the nation. This led to the rise and domination of the Taliban government. Following the rise of these insurgents, Afghanistan again provoked conflict from the world powers, namely, the United States.

The rise of the Taliban government of Afghanistan resulted from the Afghan civil war, which was a struggle to find some unity among the multiethnic peoples of the nation. America initially opted to aid the Taliban insurgency, only for them to turn on their allies after receiving equipment and training. Because of this, America was forced to again, replace the government of the country. “ The radical Taliban regime emerged as the victor in this conflict, and held power from 1996 until it was deposed by a US-led invasion in 2001,” (Afghanistan). While the invasion was successful in removing the insurgent government, it was unable to prevent tensions, not only among the insurgents, but among the Afghan peoples as well. Culturally, Afghanistan remains a place of conflict and turmoil.

Works Cited

"Afghanistan." //Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs//. Georgetown University, 2010. Web. 3 Feb 2012. []

"Western Powers and the Great Game." //Cultural Orientation//. N.p., 2002. Web. 3 Feb 2012. <http://www.cal.org/co/afghan/ahist.html