| When the Soviet Union launched a concentrated invasion of its southern neighbor Afghanistan on December 25, 1979, it was realizing a dream which had eluded the Russian leadership for well over a century. However, what the Soviets failed to comprehend was the scale and devotion of the Afghan resistance which was, from the outset, dedicated to expelling them from the country.;The 1990s would witness the growth of militant Islam and subsequently, Islamist violence and terrorism, culminating in the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The main argument which has since arisen was that this act of terror is simply "blowback" for U.S. policy toward Afghanistan and the Islamic world in general. This thesis examines the argument, questioning the responsibility the U.S. bears in creating the conditions which led to 9/11. In doing so, it explores two primary themes: first, the Soviet-Afghan war in general, with particular attention paid to the role of the United States and other contributors to the resistance such as Saudi Arabia. Second, it looks at the rise of militant Islamism, showing how and why the war in Afghanistan was the catalyst which facilitated its growth throughout the 1990s. This thesis links these two themes together, and concludes that the role of the United States during the Soviet-Afghan War did inadvertently contribute to the rise of militant Islamism; but it does not bear singular responsibility because the ideology espoused by these jihadists and their sponsors was already well established and widely promulgated throughout the Muslim world. It was not simply a reaction to American geopolitical strategy.;Seizing the opportunity, decisions were made in Washington to actively arm and fund this resistance in the hopes of inflicting defeat on the Soviets. While the operation proved successful, the "anti-Soviet Jihad" would also carry unintended consequences, as the weaponry and funding which poured into the insurgency also helped to further empower Islamist militants. These individuals and groups, including Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda terrorist network, sought to expand the jihad beyond the borders of Afghanistan and against any and all perceived threats to their objectives. This entailed, above all, warring against supposed impious governments throughout the Islamic world, as well as their enablers, particularly the United States and its allies in the region. |
