The Fall and the Rise of the Taliban

November marks the eighth anniversary of the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Taliban is a Sunni Islamist fundamentalist religious and political movement that governed Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001. They came to power in 1996 as a movement to end the corruption and consistent warring of the existing quasi-government of the Mujahideen warlords. The Taliban leaders were removed from power by NATO forces in retaliation for their role in supporting Osama bin Laden in planning the three coordinated September 11 attacks on the United States.

NATO forces were participating in Operation Enduring Freedom organized by Commander in Chief, President George W. Bush. But since 2004, the Taliban has regrouped as a strong insurgency movement governing at the local level and fighting a guerrilla war against the governments of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the allied NATO forces. The Taliban movement is headed by Mullah Mohammed Omar and operates in Afghanistan and the Frontier Tribal Areas of Pakistan.

The Taliban is classified today as an "alternative government" in Afghanistan. Its major allies include Al-Qaeda, the Muslin extremist group whose main goal is to inflict terrorism and destruction on the United States and other infidel countries. The Taliban operates fifteen Sharia law courts in the country's southern provinces handling civil and commercial cases and collects taxes on harvests in farming areas. Under the Taliban regime, Sharia law was interpreted to ban a wide variety of activities hitherto lawful in Afghanistan: employment, education and sports for women, movies, television, videos, music, dancing, hanging pictures in homes, clapping during sports events, kite flying, and beard trimming.

After eight years in Afghanistan, and little overall success in defeating the Taliban and/or Al-Qaeda, the U.S. and NATO forces are debating whether to increase their efforts in Operation Enduring Freedom, or like the Russians before them, withdraw to end the loss of life and financial resources.

How much do students really know about Afghanistan, the Taliban, and Al-Qaeda after eight years and the unfortunate shift of focus in the "War on Terror" to Iraq?

Students should write a report of at least 150 words (or a presentation of at least seven slides) that cites at least three resources. Students' reports should address the following essential questions for critical thinking (you can create or substitute others):

• What is Sharia law and how is it enforced by the Taliban in Afghanistan?
• Why does the Taliban continue to ally with Al-Qaeda?
• What is the current status of Operation Enduring Freedom?
• Are you for or against the continuation of Operation Enduring Freedom—why or why not?

1: Topic Search > Type "Taliban" > click "Taliban (company/org) AND War" >
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2: Topic Search > Type "Taliban" > click "Taliban (company/org) AND Islam" >
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3: Topic Search > Type "Taliban (company/org) AND Al Qaeda (company/org)" >
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Use our custom ProQuest models for written or PowerPoint reports written and PowerPoint-style reports.

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