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Summary: The Soviet Union Revolution

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● Following World War II, both the United States and the Soviet Union competed for hegemony, with Pakistan establishing ties with the United States in 1954, and Afghanistan turning to the Soviet Union. The Soviets viewed Afghanistan not only as a strategic location to counter the US alliance with Pakistan, but also as a key trade location with access to oil.
● At the time, the Saur Revolution of April 1978 had recently taken place, where the Afghan communist party seized power in a coup and killed the prime minister, and set up a new government with close ties to the Soviet Union. Its ruthlessness with harsh military, social and land reforms, combined with economic measures that worsened conditions for the poor led to resistance by the Mujahideen, …show more content…
Resulting bombing and depopulation of rural areas by the Soviets resulted in 4.3 million Afghani refugees having fled to Pakistan and Iran by 1982.
● In September 1988, Osama bin Laden and 15 other Islamists founded the group al-Qaeda for the goal of a nation governed purely by Islam, and of pursuing jihad against anyone, including the Soviets, who opposed their goal.
● Between 1988 and 1992, Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev withdrew his forces, calling the country a “bleeding wound”, due to the high military and diplomatic cost. During this period of time, the civil war continued as the Mujahideen continued to attempt an overthrow of Najibullah’s government, which was backed by the Soviet Union.
● Following the Soviet withdrawal, al-Qaeda turned its attention towards the United States, considering it to be the main opposition of the Islamic state.
● With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, Najibullah was left without foreign aid, and his rule toppled in April 1992. This was followed by a civil war lasting between 1992 and 1996 that resulted in the Taliban taking control of most of …show more content…
● In 1999, the UN imposed an air embargo and financial sanctions to force Afghanistan into handing over Osama bin Laden for trial.
● On September 11th, 2001, al-Qaeda successfully executed three of four coordinated airliner suicide attacks on symbolic US landmarks, the two towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the White House.
● The U.S. bombing of Afghanistan under the Bush administration commenced shortly after the September 11th attacks, in October.
● In June of 2002, the grand council of Afghanistan, or the Loya Jirga, elected Hamid Karzai to serve as interim leader until 2004.
● In November of 2002, Osama bin Laden released his “Letter to America”, in which he states the motives of the motives of the September 11th attacks. The most prominent include the American support of Israel, sanctions against Iraq, and support of the attacks against Muslims in Somalia.
● In January of 2004, the council adopted a new constitution calling for a president, two vice presidents, and three branches overseen by checks and balances. It also restored basic rights, including equality for women. In October, Karzai was reelected as president by 55 percent of more than 10.5 million Afghans. In 2005, the first parliamentary elections in more than 30 years were

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