9781422286005

War in Afghanistan: Overthrow of the Taliban and Aftermath

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different beliefs. Muslims call this jihad , or holy war. Even before the September 11 attacks, the Taliban government had become an international pariah due to its support for terrorists, viola- tions of human rights, and destruction of cultural treasures. After the surprise attack, U.S. President George W. Bush declared a “war on terrorism.” Afghanistan was the first target. On October 7, 2001, the United States Air Force began bombing sites inside Afghanistan. The American war in Afghanistan had begun.

1. At what time did the first airplane hit the World Trade Center? 2. Why was the Pentagon targeted by terrorists? 3. What does the Pashto word talib mean? TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS

Islamism is a political movement in which the government is based on Muslim teachings that date from the seventh century. To Islamists, any developments since the time of the Prophet Muhammad are considered to be corruptions of the proper way to live. Using the Internet or your school library, find some examples of countries that have an Islamist gov- ernment. Explain how their government is different from the system in the United States today. RESEARCH PROJECT