New Tensions Emerge Flashcards
Consequences of the Soviet War in Afghanistan
When the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan warlords fought over control of the country leading to a civil war
The Taliban was formed by Mohammed Omar and took over in 1996 setting up a strict, fundamentalist form of Sharia law on Afghanistan
Another jihadist group that emerged out of the end of the Cold War was the Afghan Service Bureau (founded by Osama Bin Ladin) which later became known as Al-Qaeda
Reasons for 9/11
New age of conflict; Al Qaeda grew rapidly among the growth of Muslim fundamentalism and jihadism in unstable countries with much chaos. After 1989 foreign Mujahideen fighters who had been fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan left to spread jihadism to other countries
Osama Bin Ladin’s hatred of America; He condemned US support for Israel, he criticised US interventions in Somalia in 1993-95, he hated that the US was an ally of Saudi Arabia
Growing Al-Qaeda activity; Al-Qaeda detonated a truck bomb in ‘93, they attempted to assassinate President Bill Clinton in the Philippines in ‘96, in 2000 they exploded a small boat near the USS Cole
War on terror
US President George W Bush called for a “War on Terror” which aimed to;
1. Find and kill terrorists and destroy their organisations
2. Undertake regime change by abolishing terrorist safe places
3. Strengthen weaker states such as Afghanistan and build them into strong democracies
4. Improve security for US citizens at home and abroad
As a result;
1. Afghanistan was attacked in October
2. Taliban regime there was removed
3. 2003 a coalition of forces invaded Iraq
4. 800 prisoner suspected of terrorist connections were imprisoned without trial at Guantanamo Bay
Reasons for invading Afghanistan
The US demanded that the Taliban government in Afghanistan hand over Bin Ladin and dismantle the Al-Qaeda organisation in Afghanistan. When the Taliban delayed, the US and Britain launched ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ with waves of bomber and missile attacks on the Taliban army and Al-Qaeda camps
Impacts on international relations;
1. By 2016 more than 4,000 ISAF as well as some 15,000 Afghan soldiers and police along with nearly 20,000 civilians
2. Coalition forces
3. Little support from Arab countriess
Reasons for the invasion of Iraq
The US claimed Iraq was invaded because of Saddam Hussein’s support of Al-Qaeda and Iraq was stocking up weapons of mass destruction but there wasn’t much evidence of either. They later reasoned it was for regime change
