American+and+Taliban+Relationship

= __Brief History of the Taliban__ =
 * The Taliban has roots as far back as the Soviet-Afghanistan War[7]
 * Many militia groups, known as Mujahideen, fought against the Soviets[8]
 * Osama Bin Laden was a strong supporter of the Mujahideen, financing the groups and recruiting people[7]
 * The United States supported the Mujahideen in their efforts to drive out the Communists and helped finance some of these groups[8]
 * After driving out the Russians, these groups fought among themselves with a young group, the Taliban, ending up with control of the country[7]
 * Taliban lead an oppressive regime with strict interpretations of the Koran[7]
 * There was a general disinterest in the Taliban after the Soviets left Russia until September 11, 2001.[8]

= __September 11 Attacks and Consequences__: =


 * Al Qaeda carried out terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, killing around 3,000 people[5]
 * Al Qaeda and Taliban had close alliance at the time[1]
 * Taliban had allowed Osama bin Laden, leader of Al Qaeda, to operate freely in Afghanistan and provided security[1]

=United States Reaction to 9/11:=


 * HMG (Her Majesty’s Government): “The attack could not have occurred without the alliance between the Taleban and Usama Bin Laden, which allowed Bin Laden to operate freely in Afghanistan, promoting, planning and executing terrorist activity” (Blair, T., 2001).[1]
 * George W. Bush: “We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them” (Bush, G., 2001).[3]

=Taliban Reaction to 9/11:= =Aftermath:=
 * Taliban officials condemned 9/11 attacks[4]
 * Mullah Abdul Salam, Afghanistan's Taliban ambassador to Pakistan: "We want to tell the American children that Afghanistan feels your pain. We hope the courts find justice" (Salam, M., 2001).[4]
 * Taliban was overthrown in 2002 by a group of U.S. troops and anti-Taliban groups, but still exists within Afghanistan[2]
 * Taliban influence has started to spread again, especially in the southern part of Afghanistan[6]

=__ The Kite Runner __:=
 * "The conversation inevitably turned to the Taliban. 'Is it as bad as I hear?' I said. 'Nay, it's worse. Much worse,' he said" (p. 198).
 * Example of American disinterest in the area after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan and before September 11

= __Discussion Questions__: = >
 * Considering how life is described by Rahim Khan in Chapter 15, do you think the United States should have become more involved in Afghanistan and against the Taliban before it actually did (after the September 11 attacks)?
 * What do you think of the quote, "We will make no distinction between between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them?" Do you think the Taliban deserves as much blame as Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda in relation to the September 11 attacks?
 * Amir has lived in America for most of his life - nearly 20 years. What kind of conflict do you think we'll see with Amir back where he grew up?

References:

 * 1) Blair, T. (2001, November 14). //Responsibility for the Terrorist Atrocities in the United States, 11 September 2001 - An Updated Account//. Retrieved from: https://www.number-10.gov.uk
 * 2) Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State. (2011, November 18). //Background Note: Afghanistan.// Retrieved from: https://www.state.gov/
 * 3) Bush, G. (2001, September 11). Statement by the President in His Address to the Nation//. Retrieved from:// https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov.
 * 4) Cable News Network. (2001, September 12). //Taliban diplomat condemns attacks.// Retrieved from: https://edition.cnn.com/
 * 5) Cable News Network. (2003, October 29). //New York reduces 9/11 death toll by 40//. Retrieved from: https://articles.cnn.com/
 * 6) Reid, R. (2010, August 26). //Taliban Insurgency Appears To Be Spreading in Afghanistan//. Retrieved from: []
 * 7) Asfar, S., Samples, C., & Wood, T. (2008). "The Taliban: An Organizational Analysis". //SIRS Knowledge Source//. 58-73. Received from: []
 * 8) Benson, S. "The Afghan Taliban Strikes Out". (2002). //Gale Student Resources In Context//. Retrieved from: []

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