New Tensions Emerge 1991-2003 Flashcards
After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, what changed in Afghanistan? (3)
(1989 - 96)
- a power vacuum led to a civil war
- the mujahideen collapsed into infighting (between different factions)
- in 1996 the Taliban became the faction with the most control
Who was the leader of the Taliban in 1996?
Mohammed Omar
How did the Taliban recruit?
What does Taliban mean?
- Mohammed Omar recruited many students from madrassas (Islamic schools)
- student in Pashto
Why were the Taliban supported in Afghanistan?
They brought order, not the chaos of Mujaheddin infighting
How did the Taliban change Afghanistan’s governance? (2)
- they established an Islamic Emirate
- imposed strict sharia law
What is Sharia Law? (2)
- A literal, fundamentalist take on the Quran,
- with extreme punishments for lawbreakers
How were women’s rights affected by the implementation of sharia law in Afghanistan?
Detail some changes (3)
Broadly, women’s rights were removed
Women were now:
- forced to wear a burqa
- couldn’t travel without a man’s permission
- forbidden from receiving education
How much of Afghanistan did the Taliban control in 1998?
Which countries recognized this
- 90%
- Only recognized by Pakistan, UAE and Saudi Arabia
Which ostensibly charitable organization grew out of the Soviet Afghan war?
What were they really doing?
Who was (one of) its founders
- the Afghan Services Bereau / Maktab al-Khidamat (MAB)
- recruiting, training and arming refugees for the Mujaheddin
- Osama Bin Laden
How did Osama Bin Laden view western influence?
What particularly annoyed Bin Laden about the US?
That it threatened Islam and the muslim world - westerners were infidels
- in his view:
1. The US supported the Israeli state - Arab nations unanimously oppose
2. They did not remove troops from Saudi Arabia after the Gulf War - he saw this as conspiracy to attack Islam
3. Islamic holy sites like Mecca were becoming diluted - due to Western influence - becoming American colonies
What did Bin Laden view as the only defence against ‘American attack on Islam’? (2)
- To establish Sharia law and
- Destroy outside influences
At what stage did the MAK become Al-Qaeda?
Some time after 1989
When was the Iran-Iraq war?
Who led Iran during war?
Who did the US support?
- Sept 1980 - Aug 1988
- Ayatollah Khameni
- US supported Iraq (lesser of two evils - Hussein opposed Islamist fundamentalism)
How much did the Iran-Iraq war cost Iraq?
How did Iraq change?
- $100 bn with a $70 bn deficit
- from oil rich into economic ruin - forced into debt
How did the US support Iraq against Iran?
What did Hussein do with these?
- they sent weapons
- they also sent chemicals, which Hussein used to make chemical weapons and use against Kurds in Iraq - the US ignored this (during Iran-Iraq war)
Between 1988 and 1990, what did Iraq do to fix their economy?
What did Hussein then do?
How did Kuwait respond?
- Hussein borrowed money from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
- he demanded debt forgiveness
- Kuwait dropped their oil prices in retaliation, (less people bought Iraqi oil - more economic hardship)
Why did Iraq invade Kuwait (1st Gulf War)
In retaliation to Kuwait’s drop in oil prices
and
for not allowing debt forgiveness for loans after the Iran-Iraq war