Abstract
This essay examines and analyzes the Soviet approach to counterinsurgency during the Soviet-Afghan War. Four aspects of the Soviet counterinsurgency are considered. Firstly, the Soviet's initial approach to the insurgents. Secondly, the Soviet approach of seeking out and destroying the insurgents outside secured areas. Next, the Soviet's use of terrorism to reinstate control. Finally, the fledgling level of discipline of Soviet troops and its effect in the counterinsurgency. Through this research, this paper concludes that the Soviets had a ruthless approach to counterinsurgency with doctrine that had been applied to past conflicts and was not tailored to Afghanistan.

From the Paper
"Leading up to the Soviet-Afghan war, the USSR had learnt much from their experiences in internal irregular conflicts to consolidate communist revolutions in Eastern Europe and in Central Asia. They had learnt that fast conventional forces in overwhelming numbers taking key political and military points, or what could be called a type of 'shock and awe' campaign of the contemporary age, had been effective in the quelling of rebellions against Soviet rule in Eastern Europe. The Soviets had also learnt that the creation and strengthening of a mass-based political organisation was a part of the first step in effective counterinsurgency in Central Asia. Subsequently, a form of counterinsurgency doctrine had been developed from these conflicts."

Tags:insurgency, counterinsurgency, Afghanistan, soviet-afghan, war, Taliban

Abstract
This paper investigates the current status of the Afghan economy and presents opposing views on this issue. It suggests that years of war, as well as the recent involvement of America in Afghanistan, combined with religious, political and social issues have impacted the economy of the country. The paper concludes that while there has been growth in the Afghan economy, there are many problems that threaten to stifle the further growth of the economy.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Opposing Opinions On This Issue
The Afghan Economy
Conclusion

From the Paper
"In fact in 2003 research revealed an increased dependency on poppy as a way for Afghans to survive. In addition the growing of Poppies has had the impact of increasing the amount of land rent, borrowing and marriage costs (Goodhand 2004). As a result desperate measures are taken to repay debts including absconding, and the premature marriage of daughters (Goodhand 2004). The article also explains that creditors are becoming more authoritarian in their approach, by kidnapping daughters and compulsory land purchases, to guarantee repayment (Goodhand 2004). The inability to repay debts has resulted in a great deal of conflict (Goodhand 2004). The author explains that an average accumulated debt per household of $1,835 was found through the research (Goodhand 2004). Many of the Farmers have two to six years to repay their debt. This means that many farmers are trapped in the opium economy for many years into the future (Goodhand 2004)."

Tags:war, government, trade

Abstract
This paper examines how the Afghan war influenced Societ Policy domestically, with an emphasis on Central Asia. According to the paper, the ward delegitimated Communist Party rule. At the same time, civil society held the Afghan veterans in contempt and the army was "demoralized" at being perceived as an invader. Additionally, the Soviet Army fighting against Islam in Afghanistan sparked a rise in Islamic fundamentalism in the Central Asian republics and may well have strengthened the independence movement in Chechnya.

From the Paper
"The Afghan war de-legitimated Communist Party rule. At the same time, civil society held the Afghan veterans in contempt and the army was "demoralized" at being perceived as an invader; famed academic Andrei Sakharov publicly denounced the atrocities committed by the Soviet Union's forces in Afghanistan ("Essay_Information[1]pdf," 3). The image of the Soviet Army fighting against Islam in Afghanistan sparked a rise in Islamic fundamentalism in the Central Asian republics and may..."

Tags:afghanistan, soviets, mujahadeen

Abstract
The paper outlines how the capable Soviet military invaded a powerless Afghanistan in support of the Marxist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan in their battle against the Mujahedeen, a grassroots militia resistance force. The paper provides the background of Afghanistan and the United States' involvement in this country. The paper addresses the factors that impact conflict prevention and peace building, looks at the process of conflict management and resolution and examines frameworks for conflict analysis. The paper highlights the important lessons to be learned in the area of conflict resolution and in the flawed support provided by the United States to Afghanistan. This paper contains figures and tables.

Outline:
Focus and Objective of the Study
Background to the Study
United States' Involvement in Afghanistan
Conflict Prevention and Peace-Building
Frameworks for Conflict Analysis
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper
"Despite the well-armed troops and superior technology employed by the Russians, in the form of tanks and helicopters, the Mujahedeen was victorious in a long and bloody war of attrition. This was in no small part to intelligence and arms provided to the Mujahedeen by the U.S. After the defeat of the Russians was achieved, the U.S. turned its back on Afghanistan, focusing its efforts elsewhere. Arms provided by the U.S. were used as fuel by the Taliban and al Qaeda and their efforts to secure the country, and ironically bolster a very Anti-American agenda. This conflict interests me because it seems possible that the U.S. is currently engaged in a war in Afghanistan based on American policies in the region more than 20 years ago. The Soviet-Afghan War provided a place for terrorists like Osama Bin Laden to cut their teeth and sharpen their skills for the upcoming jihad. This war set the stage for the Global War on Terrorism, and unfortunately America adequately prepared some of its enemies for this conflict. Conflict is stated in the World Bank Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction Team (CPR) Social Development Department document entitled: "Conflict Analysis Framework (CAF)" published April 11, 2005 to be: "...inherent to all societies. Differences in interests and opinions between groups are natural, but the method by which such differences are expressed and managed determine if conflicts manifest themselves in primarily political (non violent) or violent ways.""

Tags:peace, resolution, Taliban, weapons, funding

Abstract
This paper evaluates the post-9/11 efforts of the international community and the Afghan government towards institutionalizing democracy in Afghanistan. The paper critically analyzes not only the efforts of the international community and the Afghan government but it also evaluates the potential factors such as counter-warlordism and counter-insurgency, that have significantly undermined the post-2001 Afghan democratization process. The paper concludes that the failure of democratization has not only been caused by the over-concentration of the international community on the problems of counter-warlordism and counter-insurgency but also by the failure of the internationally-backed Afghan government in dealing effectively with such challenges.

From the Paper
"To begin, the Bonn Conference in its own did not provide the ground for the democratization of Afghanistan. While the Bonn Agreement of 2001 recognized the right of the people of Afghanistan to freely decide about their political future, it did not practically provide the Afghan people with the opportunity to democratically decide about the future of their country. Ironically, the participants in the Bonn Conference were the representatives of Afghan opposing groups that were neither democratically elected by the people of Afghanistan nor had legitimacy among various Afghan ethnic groups especially Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks."

Tags:warlordism counter-insurgency, ethnic groups, power karzai

Abstract
An investigation of women's rights in Afghanistan. The author examines the rules and laws that women must abide by concerning work, travel and education, punishment and specific difficulties that they encounter such as health care. The paper provides a look at some personal stories.

OUTLINE

I. Introduction
A. Who are the Taliban?
B. Life Before the Taliban

II. Rules
A. May not work
B. Ban on education
C. Travel
D. Contact with males
E. Hiding in home
F. Dress
G. Bathing
III. Punishment
Death for traveling with man not her mahram
Whipping, beating and verbal abuse of women not clothed in accordance with Taliban rules, or of women unaccompanied by a mahram, for having non-covered ankles.
Women have been shot at for leaving their homes without a male escort to receive medical care.
IV. Specific difficulties
A. Employment
B. Health care
V. Personal stories
A. SUMAYYAH KARIMI
VI. Conclusion

From the Paper
"The plight of women in Afghanistan has received much media attention since the start of the United States war on terrorism. This war has focused on Afghanistan because the Taliban government allowed their country to be used as a safe haven by terrorists. While the women of Afghanistan have lived under restrictions unfamiliar to many women living in Western countries, since the Taliban took control of the majority of Afghanistan in 1996, they have been subjected to a series of rules and punishments unprecedented in any other country of the world."

Tags:freedom, rights, treat, power, control, authority, patriarchy

Abstract
The paper discusses and analyzes the topic of the Soviet-Afghanistan War. Specifically it analyzes the Afghan resistance in the Soviet-Afghanistan War, including the factions, leaders, and external connections. The paper states that throughout the war, the mujahidin rebel forces repeatedly outfoxed the Soviet troops, leading to a war that dragged on for ten years, which many call "Russia's Vietnam." More than 25,000 Soviet troops were killed during the war, and the loss to guerilla fighters undermined the Soviet military and public opinion.

Outline:
Origins of the War
The War Itself
The Players
The Aftermath of the War

From the Paper
"In the 1970s, Afghanistan was still a monarchy, and many of its leaders, who followed Marxism and Maoism instead, did not support Islam. However, of the approximately 12 million people living in the country, 90 percent claimed alliance to the Sunni Muslim sect. In addition, the country relied heavily on the Soviet Union for survival. However, all that would begin to change in 1973, when the monarchy toppled and a new leader took power. One historian writes, "In July 1973 Prince Muhammad Daud, a former prime minister and cousin of the Afghan King Zahir Shah, overthrew the government, abolished the monarchy, and proclaimed himself president of Afghanistan." Daud ruled for five years, until he was overthrown by a coup operated by the very small People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). Many people felt the coup was at least partly supported by the Soviet Union. Ultimately, the group created so many reforms that chipped away at long-held Afghan social and cultural traditions that anarchy spread throughout the country."

Tags:mightiest, superpowers, mujahidin, migratory, genocide

Abstract
This paper describes and compares two works of art to show how two ancient cultures, China and Afghanistan, created small, personalized horse-figures to express the importance of horses in their world. The figures compared are ?Quadruped with Bowl and Three Cockerels?, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, from the Second Century, and a Chinese tomb sculpture made between 25 and 220 A.D, also found in the LACMA. The paper includes pictures of the two pieces.

From the Paper
"The Chinese horse is also stylized, its pose exaggerated. But unlike the Afghan piece, it shows no humor, and no real movement, despite the fact that its more realistic legs seem to be posed to indicate actual movement; the Afghan figure's legs are four-square and still, it seems more active than the Chinese figure. This may be a function of the function of each piece. The Afghan figure was made for an apparently ritualistic purpose, and possibly not a totally serious one because of the humor shown in the abstraction, the gesture and the mixture of geometric and curvilinear forms."

Tags:Greco-Buddhist, Scythians

Abstract
The paper discusses how the lasting effects of colonialism in Afghanistan are evident in this war torn country's current suffering, for Afghans are once again being victimized by geopolitical factors and foreign imperialism beyond the ability of its fragile government to effectively address. The paper relates that during the decades of British interventions in Afghanistan based upon strategic 19th century considerations, Afghan leaders were never able to maintain effective long-lasting control over their nation's destiny because they never had the power to establish or maintain Afghan sovereignty. The paper relates that the same dilemma faces them today because of Afghanistan's strategic importance in the modern world.

From the Paper
"The lasting effects of colonialism in Afghanistan are evident in this war torn country's current suffering, for Afghans are once again being victimized by geopolitical factors and foreign imperialism beyond the ability of its fragile government to effectively address. During the decades of British interventions in Afghanistan based upon strategic 19th Century considerations, Afghan leaders were never able to maintain effective long-lasting control over their nation's destiny because they..."

Tags:anglo, afghan, wars

Abstract
This paper examines the current Afghan administration's policy regarding the participation of the Taliban in democratic elections. It also assesses the position of the U.S. and the impact of its war on terror on domestic affairs in Afghanistan. The paper attempts to prove that members of the Taliban elite and warlords were allowed to participate -- and even won seats -- in the 2005 elections because the Afghan government has chosen to undertake a policy of reconciliation and appeasement. The paper further shows that this policy is self-motivated, in an attempt by the current leadership to maintain its own control of power at the center.

From the Paper
"The parliamentary and provincial elections held on September 18, 2005 were among the first, organized since the decade of constitutional monarchy in Afghanistan (1963-1973). As a result, 249 members were elected to represent the Afghans at the Wolosi Jirga (the lower house of the parliament). What is astonishing is that warlords, including four former high-ranking officials of Taliban's oust government, comprise at least half of the house's members. International human rights groups have accused most of these men of narcotics' production and trafficking, as well as committing atrocities against the people. Civilians claim to have fallen victim, or witnessed crimes committed by them since as early as the beginning of the Afghans' resistance against the Soviet invasion (Kolhatkar and Ingals 1). Thus the question is: Why has the current administration allowed warlords and Taliban to participate in the recent parliamentary elections?"

Tags:afghan, assistance, dostum, drug, drugs, economy, elections, foreign, human, jirga, karzai, military, nacotics, parliamentary, policy, reconstruction, rights, s, sayyaf, u, wolosi