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The '''Taliban''' (literally, "students") are a fanatically intolerant [[Islam]]ic [[fundamentalist]] movement which exercised rule over most of [[Afghanistan]] from 1996 until 2001, when [[United States]] forces invaded Afghanistan and overthrew them.<ref> Retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely said, "We took down the Taliban in the fall of 2001, in 34 days with 100 men." [http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080303/NATION/250209854/1001&template=nextpage] </ref>  

The '''Taliban''' (literally, "students") are a fanatically intolerant [[Islam]]ic [[fundamentalist]] movement which exercised rule over most of [[Afghanistan]] from 1996 until 2001, when [[United States]] forces invaded Afghanistan and overthrew them.<ref> Retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely said, "We took down the Taliban in the fall of 2001, in 34 days with 100 men." [http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080303/NATION/250209854/1001&template=nextpage] </ref>  

It started as the one of the armed Afghan factions funded by the [[CIA]] during the Afghan conflict against Soviet Union.<ref>http://www.isreview.org/issues/20/ahmed_afghanistan.shtml</ref> The Taliban allowed [[al-Qaeda]] (a militant [[Sunni]] Islamist organization) use of Afghan territory to plot, train, and conduct terrorist activities across sovereign international borders.  

The Taliban allowed [[al-Qaeda]] (a militant [[Sunni]] Islamist organization) use of Afghan territory to plot, train, and conduct terrorist activities across sovereign international borders.  

The Taliban had close links to separatist terrorists in Chechnya, and this resulted in two bloody wars since 1994, as the [[Russian]] government fought to suppress the terrorists.  Chechen terrorists also fought for the Taliban against U.S. forces in Afghanistan.  The Chechens also had links to [[Al Qaeda]].[http://muslimvillage.net/story.php?id=370]  The Taliban retains control of substantial tracts of Afghanistan to this day, and continues to co-ordinate attacks against the Afghan government and supporting coalition forces. Many of the Taliban leaders and foot-solders are now believed to be based in [[Pakistan]] where they can launch attacks into Afghanistan or train for attacks elsewhere<ref>http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/07/terror-commande.html</ref>.     

The Taliban had close links to separatist terrorists in Chechnya, and this resulted in two bloody wars since 1994, as the [[Russian]] government fought to suppress the terrorists.  Chechen terrorists also fought for the Taliban against U.S. forces in Afghanistan.  The Chechens also had links to [[Al Qaeda]].[http://muslimvillage.net/story.php?id=370]  The Taliban retains control of substantial tracts of Afghanistan to this day, and continues to co-ordinate attacks against the Afghan government and supporting coalition forces. Many of the Taliban leaders and foot-solders are now believed to be based in [[Pakistan]] where they can launch attacks into Afghanistan or train for attacks elsewhere<ref>http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/07/terror-commande.html</ref>.     

The Taliban's rule was characterized by a fanatical intolerance for other religions and the fact that women could not be educated or attend most hospitals. Additionally, the Taliban forced all men to grow beards and banned all forms of television, imagery, music and sports, resulting in Afganistan being suspended from the 2000 Olympics. The Taliban were also strongly against [[drugs]]; since their overthrow [[heroin]] production in Afghanistan has increased massively and the country is now once again the world's largest producer<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2814861.stm</ref><ref>http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/76421.html</ref>

The Taliban's rule was characterized by a fanatical intolerance for other religions and the fact that women could not be educated or attend most hospitals. Additionally, the Taliban forced all men to grow beards and banned all forms of television, imagery, music and sports, resulting in Afganistan being suspended from the 2000 Olympics. The Taliban were also strongly against [[drugs]]; since their overthrow [[heroin]] production in Afghanistan has increased massively and the country is now once again the world's largest producer<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2814861.stm</ref><ref>http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/76421.html</ref>

However, another possible cause of this increase is the uncertainty that comes from the period in which a country is going through a governmental transition.

However, another possible cause of this increase is the uncertainty that comes from the period in which a country is going through a governmental transition.

==References==

==References==

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