dec 10, 1979 - Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Description:
The foundation for the third wave of terrorism was also laid in Afghanistan when it was invaded by the Soviet Union in December 1979 to put down a Muslim revolt against its puppet government in Kabul. The war lasted until 1989 with the withdrawal of Soviet troops. The Soviets were fought by irregular "Arab Afghans" drawn to participate in "what was the most important jihad of their lifetimes". The "freedom fighters" were subsidized generously by Saudi and US conducting one of the Cold War's eleventh-hour proxy conflicts
The Afghan war contributed to rise of Islamic terrorism in many ways:
1) it provided terrorist related skills and experience to large numbers of non-Afghan militants
2) launched Osama bin Laden to prominence as a terrorist entrepreneur - he established contact with many like minded Muslims which would help him create the al-Qaeda terrorist network
3) the Arab world drew lesson from the Soviet humiliation that violence and Islam could defeat anyone, including the "Great Satan left standing as the world's sole remaining superpower after 1989
(Shughart 29)
Added to timeline:
TRN410 Timeline
Terrorism from 1968-2001
Date:
