Afghanistan's story is tragic. The war-torn and besieged country has been invaded countless times in its long history. Past conquerors include Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and the British Empire twice in the 19th century. It is a country that has been beset by incursion, external pressure and internal disorder since approximately 637 - 809 AD when Arabs introduced Islam to the country. The people, Afghanis, have endured more than most can imagine. "In fact, all that has changed in the last one thousand years are the weapons which have been used against so many of them." (Afghanistan Online, 2005, Chronology Part 1)... Afghanistan's past political history remains prevalent today in the nation's current situation. First, because of its location geopolitically, rival powers have tended to view the control of Afghanistan by a major opponent as unacceptable. These rival powers have considered Afghanistan's internal government more as a reflection of global rivalry than anything. Afghanistan's inability to rule itself effectively and permanently can be traced back to the role Islam has in the nation. Even Genghis Khan was unable to uproot Islam, and within two generations his heirs had become Muslims. Religious leaders have always played a political role and, as in many other nations, religion has served as a means of political expression.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.