Sub-Topics 2003 2004 2005 2006 Also Try Military Conflicts and Wars Lesson Plans Afghanistan and International Terrorism Lesson Plans (PBS) Provides lessons related to Afghanistan, international terrorism, and creating world peace. 11-01 Lists Afghanistan (Political Resources) Provides links to political resources regarding Afghanistan and the Taliban. 9-00 Materials Afghanistan Battle Grounds Map (BBC News) Provides a map of Afghanistan with updated results on which group controls major cities. 11-01. Also spelled battlegrounds. History of Afghanistan (Afghan-Web.com) Provides information from pre-history (50,000 BCE) to 2001. 6-02 History of Afghanistan (Afghanan.net - Dupree) Provides information from pre-history to 1977. 6-02 Locations of Afghan Refugees (Guardian Unlimited) Provides a map of refugee movements and locations. (Uses Macromedia Flash format.) 10-01 Maps of Afghanistan (ReliefWeb) Provides maps, in terms of human needs in the area. 11-01 Multimedia -Senator Kerry Discusses Afghanistan's Progress (CNN News) Senator John Kerry discusses President Karzai, insufficient governance, and U.S. progress in Afghanistan. 08-10 News Rebuilding Afghanistan News (PBS.org) Provides news on the rebuilding of Afghanistan. Papers -Afghan Women and the Return of the Taliban (Time.com) " 'When we talk about women's rights,' Jamalzadah says, 'we are talking about things that are important to men as well — men who want to see Afghanistan move forward. If you sacrifice women to make peace, you are also sacrificing the men who support them and abandoning the country to the fundamentalists that caused all the problems in the first place.' " 07-10 -Editorial: How Will the U.S. Get Out of Afghanistan? (Time.com) "For reasons that were quite clear well before the Afghan “surge” began (see here and here), America’s Afghan adventure is now ending without achieving its goals, despite Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s claim Wednesday in Brussels that “significant progress” has been made in the war." "To the contrary, the Taliban have survived the U.S. troop surge with its fangs and shadow governments intact; they have no incentive to negotiate, and they are poised to launch a spring offensive in 2013." "The prospects for a civil life in Afghanistan are likely to become even more remote than they were before we intervened." 10-12 -Editorial: The Global Crisis of Stunting (Time.com) "Stunting, or stunted growth, is the result of chronic nutritional deficiencies. A stunted 5-year-old is four to six inches shorter than a non-stunted peer. But lost height is the least of concerns: a stunted child, for instance, is nearly five times more likely to die from diarrhea than a non-stunted child because of the physiological changes in a stunted body. Stunting is also associated with impaired brain development. A typical stunted brain has fewer cells. The cells themselves are somewhat smaller, and the interconnection between them is more limited. This means lasting impaired functioning, which leads in turn to significantly reduced learning. Considering the severe effects, stunting has received far too little attention for far too long." "Stunting is so common in some areas that it is sometimes mistaken for a genetic heritage, rather than a preventable condition. Just 21 countries straddling the globe account for more than 80% of the problem around the globe. In six countries — Afghanistan, Burundi, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Timor-Leste and Yemen — 50% or more of all children under age 5 suffer from this condition. In Afghanistan, a staggering 59% of children under age 5 are stunted." "How can a community, a nation or a continent ever hope to develop to its full capacity if its children cannot? In all conscience, how can those of us in societies not so afflicted withhold our help to combat stunting in the developing world? We know how to address the problem by providing expectant mothers, newborns and very young children nutrients such as proteins, fat and vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, iron and zinc." 02-12 -Karzai Loses Key Ally in McChrystal (Time.com) "The day after the sacking of General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, a variety of reactions emerged. His replacement at the head of what is officially called the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) by General David Petraeus calmed the nerves of some and inspired hope in others. But many in the Afghan capital — most likely including President Hamid Karzai, who considered McChrystal his chief American ally — are deeply pessimistic about what's to come." 06-10 -Karzai: U.S. Is 7 Years Too Late in Afghanistan (PBS.org) "In an interview with Margaret Warner, Afghan President Hamid Karzai welcomed additional U.S. troops, but said they were "seven years too late." He also endorsed reaching out to members of the Taliban who embraced the Afghan constitution." 03-09 Abuse of Girls in Afghanistan (MSNBC News) "Although baad (also known as baadi) is illegal under Afghan and, most religious scholars say, Islamic law, the taking of girls as payment for misdeeds committed by their elders still appears to be flourishing. Shakila, because one of her uncles had run away with the wife of a district strongman, was taken and held for about a year. It was the district leader, furious at the dishonor that had been done to him, who sent his men to abduct her." 02-12 Afghanistan (CIA.gov) Provides a history of the country, including history (Introduction), military, transportation, geography, people, economy, communications, transnational issues, and a map. 2-06 Afghanistan (CountryReports.org) Provides a profile by topic, including Economy, Defense, Geography, Government, People, National Anthem, Lyrics and Related Links. Provides a map and a flag. 6-02 Afghanistan (Library of Congress) Provides a profile by topic. 11-05 Afghanistan (Library of Congress) Provides a history of the country, including culture, government, economy, and more. Also includes geographic information. 1-02 Afghanistan (U.S. State Department) Provides a history of the country, including culture, government, economy, and more. 1-02 Afghanistan Approves New Constitution (Bloomberg.com) "Afghanistan's national council approved a constitution paving the way for democratic elections, in a move hailed by U.S. President George W. Bush, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan." 1-04 Afghanistan One Year Later (CBS News) "The war in Afghanistan has claimed 39 American lives, including 16 during combat or other hostile situations. About 10,000 U.S. soldiers remain in Afghanistan, hunting for terrorists and helping the interim government of President Hamid Karzai." 10-02 America's Fund for Afghan Children (Red Cross) President Bush is asking children to contribute to prevent a disaster to the children of Afghanistan. The funds will be used, in coordination with the United Nations and other relief efforts in Afghanistan, through a special program set up for this by the American Red Cross. 10-01 10-01 Bombs and Food (Economist) Provides a British view of the American bombing in Afghanistan and discusses the need for food. Includes a map showing how many people are at risk of starvation in each part of the country. 10-01 10-01 Brave Children of Afghanistan (BBC News - Miron) "There was no furniture, no cupboards, no spare clothes left hanging, not even any glass in the windows - just cardboard. And no fire to keep them warm at night." "Nasim earns about 30,000 Afghanis a day - about $1 - cleaning shoes. With that he buys the basics for his family, mostly just bread and sugar." Like many other children in Afghanistan, Nasim is literally the family breadwinner. "I asked him how he felt about his situation. 'I am happy and not happy,' he told me. 'Happy because I work, but not happy because I cannot earn enough to bring my family everything they need.' " 7-02 Building a Nation in Afghanistan (San Francisco Chronicle - Achikzad) Suggests a role for the United Nations and the former king of Afghanistan in creating a transitional government after the Taliban are removed from power. 10-01 Delicate Balance of Power in Afghanistan (Gulf News - Gopal) Describes the various factions of power in Afghanistan and how the balance between them will be difficult to maintain. 3-02 Editorial: Why Elections in Afghanistan Were Never the Answer (Time.com) "...Afghanistan is in the grip of a civil war that pits a U.S.-backed political establishment, which includes both Karzai and Abdullah, against the Taliban." "No one actually voted for the Taliban, of course, and its call for a boycott of the poll was enforced by threat of death. But whether out of fear, political choice or sheer indifference, 12 million voters — representing 70% of the electorate, compared with just 30% in 2004 — stayed away from the ballot stations. A runoff election was expected to see an even smaller turnout." The author concluded that "any political solution in Afghanistan will have be negotiated on the basis of the real distribution of power, rather than votes cast in an election staged in the heat of a civil war." 11-09 Fundraising for the Poor Instead of the Rich (Alertnet.org) Discusses where funds are going from the massive efforts by Americans to help those affected by the September 11th disaster. Suggests that raising funds for the starving in Afghanistan should be considered. Also called 911, 9-11, or 9/11.10-01 Geneva Convention on Treatment of Prisoners of War (University of Minnesota) Provides the rules, accepted by most countries, for treatment of prisoners of war. Killing, torturing, starving, injuring, mistreating, or failing to provide medical assistance to a prisoner of war is a war crime. 10-09 Getting Food to the Children (Alertnet.org) Discusses the great efforts relief agencies are taking to ensure that food and other essential supplies reach those who need it most, especially children. "Mansour [of the World Food Program] said: 'United States is the largest supporter of the WFP Afghan operations. For our last operation they provided nearly 90 percent of the food and support we needed.'" 10-01 History of Afghanistan (New York Review of Books - Mishra) Describes the different political and military movements in Afghanistan in the 20th century that led to the current war. 10-01 How the Afghan Election Was Rigged (Time.com) "No one will ever know how Afghans voted in their country's presidential elections on Aug. 20, 2009. Seven weeks after the polling, the U.N.-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) is still trying to separate fraudulent tallies from ballots. In some provinces, many more votes were counted than were cast. E.U. election monitors characterize 1.5 million votes as suspect, which would include up to one-third of the votes cast for incumbent President Hamid Karzai. Once fraud occurs on the scale of what took place in Afghanistan, it is impossible to untangle." 10-09 Karzai - An Interview with Hamid Karzai (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Provides an interview with Hamid Karzai, a Pashtun tribal leader allied with the former King Mohammad Zahir Shah. Karzai said that, after the Taliban are removed from power, Afghanistan will need help from the international community to rebuild. However, speaking of the factions before the Taliban were in power, he said 'If the foreign intervention does not stop in Afghanistan from all around, terrorism will not end in Afghanistan. This message should be heard clearly by the international community.' 10-01 Landmines in Afghanistan (BBC News - George) Describes the landmine situation in Afghanistan and provides a chart comparing it with other countries with landmines. 12-01 Leaders of Afghanistan (Christian Science Monitor) Describes interim leaders of Afghanistan until a new government can be formed. Includes Hamid Karzai, Yunu Qanooni, Abdullah Abdullah, and Muhammad Quassim Fahim.12-01 Loya Jirga - A History (BBC News) A loya jirga is "a forum unique to Afghanistan in which, traditionally, tribal elders - Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks - have come together to settle affairs of the nation or rally behind a cause." 7-02 Mullah Mohammed Omar (BBC News) Provides a short profile and picture of the leader of the Taliban of Afghanistan. (Sometimes spelled Taleban.) 11-99 Oppression of Women in Afghanistan (Afghan-web.com - Shorish-Shamley) "The current oppression of women in Afghanistan is due to politics and ignorance, not Islam!" 10-01 Osama Bin Laden's Plan (Time) Provides a summary of what Osama bin Laden is trying to achieve. 11-99 Osama bin Laden Political History (PBS Frontline) Provides a rather detailed history of Osama bin Laden's life and involvement in politics. The story is expressed in "broken" English, with many grammatical errors. The source of information is a close associate of bin Laden's and reveals a great deal about the political climate and stuggles within Afghanistan and the region. The story contradicts a number of accounts of bin Laden, such as that he worked with or was trained by Americans. It also explains his relationship with his family and the Saudi regime differently from other public accounts. It states that the American retaliation for bombings of American embassies in 1998 unified Muslims in the region against the USA. The American retaliation was considered so incompetent that it must have been a deliberate attack against the Muslim religion instead of against bin Laden. 9-01 Qatar (Arab.net) Provides information on Qatar, such as history, government, and culture. 10-01 Qur'an in Arabic (IslamicCity.com) Provides the text of the Holy Qur'an in Arabic. Requires setting the browser to accept Arabic fonts in order to use. In Internet Explorer 5.0 right click on the IE icon and select Properties. Then Select Languages and pick Arabic. 6-02 Shah, Mohammad Zahir (Afghan-Network.net) Provides a short biography of the former king of Afghanistan. 10-01 Shah, Mohammad Zahir (Afghanpedia) Provides a short biography of the former king of Afghanistan. 10-01 Should Christians Convert Muslims? (Time - Biema) "Muslim critics accuse missionaries of lying about their identities and their faith to achieve their goals. And as the tensions between Islam and the West continue to boil, some familiar with the Middle East have begun asking whether the missionaries, who love Muslims but despise Islam, are the sort of nonappointed goodwill ambassadors the U.S. really needs in a region dense with the rhetoric of holy war. Says Charles Kimball, a Baptist minister who was director of the National Council of Churches' Middle East office in the 1980s: 'Sincerity isn't the issue, or commitment to one's faith. It is just that the region is at a pivotal and volatile juncture, and it is arguably not the time for groups coming in, like someone with a lighted match into a room full of explosives, wearing Jesus on their sleeves.' " 6-03 Shukria Barakzai Named Worldpress.org's 2004 International Editor of the Year (WorldPress.org) "In addition to her work in education and at Women's Mirror, Mrs. Barakzai was a member of Afghanistan's Constitutional Reviewing Commission. Nominated by President Hamid Karzai to this job, she worked for more than nine months reviewing each article of Afghanistan's Constitutional principles draft." Although her work on the Commission has ended, the 500-member grand council, or Loya Jirga, adopted the new post-conflict Afghan constitution in early January 2004. Under article 22, it states that every Afghan citizen, whether male or female, has equal rights and responsibilities before the law." Many women have called the constitution no less than a miracle in a country once dominated by conservative leaders and traditions. For Mrs. Barakzai, it is the first and most crucial step in gaining women's rights in the long term." 1-05 Taliban of Afghanistan (CNN) Provides a short summary and links related to the Taliban. (Sometimes spelled Taleban.) 11-99 UN Fears After Fall of Taliban (Guardian Unlimited) Discusses the future role of the United Nations in Afghanistan. 10-01 UN Representatives to Afghanistan (BBC News) Provides a short profile and picture of Francesc Vendrell, responsible for gaining collaboration from different factions within Afghanistan to form a new, broad-based government. Also includes a picture of Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN's representative to gain cooperation among nations regarding Afghanistan's new government. 11-01 UN Representatives to Afghanistan (BBC News) Provides a short profile and picture of Francesc Vendrell, responsible for gaining collaboration from different factions within Afghanistan to form a new, broad-based government. Also includes a picture of Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN's representative to gain cooperation among nations regarding Afghanistan's new government. 11-01 Vast Mineral Deposits Found in Afghanistan (New York Times) "The United States has discovered nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, far beyond any previously known reserves and enough to fundamentally alter the Afghan economy and perhaps the Afghan war itself, according to senior American government officials." "The previously unknown deposits — including huge veins of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and critical industrial metals like lithium — are so big and include so many minerals that are essential to modern industry that Afghanistan could eventually be transformed into one of the most important mining centers in the world, the United States officials believe." 06-10 Violence Against Women in Afghanistan (New Jersey Online - Lederer) Summarizes recommendations from a UN report related to Afghanistan and the culture of violence against women Annan found. 2-02 Weather in Afghanistan (USA Today) Provides drawings and animation to show weather patterns in Afghanistan. 11-01 Why Karzai Is Pushing Back (Time.com) "But bizarre as his behavior may seem, there may be a method in Karzai's madness. For one thing, he has begun denouncing the Western powers in his country because he knows he can — Karzai would have been cut adrift some time ago if there were any other viable alternative on whom the U.S. could pin its strategy. The wily President knows that the presence of foreign forces in his country is deeply unpopular, particularly when civilians are killed in the course of NATO military operations. Karzai, moreover, is humiliated and shown to be powerless when his protestations over such operations are ignored by his Western patrons. So while he may have been installed by a U.S.-led invasion, if Karzai is to survive the departure of Western forces, he will have to reinvent himself as a national leader with an independent power base. He's obviously determined not to go the way of Mohammad Najibullah, the former Soviet-backed leader who was executed by the Taliban seven years after the Red Army withdrew. So from Karzai's point of view, he's pushing back against the U.S. not only because he can, but also because he must if he is to survive politically." 04-10 Women's Rights in Islam (Islamic.org) Provides a summary of women's right as presented in the Qur'an and Hadith. Examples of rights include "the right and duty to obtain education, the right to have their own independent property, the right to work to earn money if they need it or want it, equality of reward for equal deeds, the right to participate fully in public life and have their voices heard by those in power," and much more. Editor's Note - The rights of women in Islam are in stark contrast to the limitations of women's rights made--in the name of Islam--by the Taliban government in Afghanistan. 10-01 Women's Rights in Islam Compared to Political Oppression (Afghan-web.com - Shorish-Shamley) Uses texts of Qur'an and Hadiths to declare that women are equal to men in Islam. 10-01

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