Afghanistan

Country in Central and South Asia, where Jim Wright traces the roots of modern terrorism in The Price of Civilization.

At a glance

Source	Author	Role	In one line
The Price of Civilization	Jim Wright	turning point	The US funded the Mujahedeen against the Soviets, then left the ruins; the fighters became the Taliban and Al Qaida.

Sub-places

• Bagram Air Base
• Bamyan
• Dushi
• Ghazni
• Ghorband Valley
• Ghoryan
• Herat
• Jalalabad
• Kabul
• Kandahar
• Moqor
• Pul-e Khumri
• Qalat
• Shibar Pass
• Tangi Sharo Gorge (Full Tilt)

The Price of Civilization — Jim Wright (2015)

Source: Original · Readwise highlight

Thirty years ago we denounced the Soviets for destroying Afghanistan and leaving nothing but ruins, a destroyed civilization, chaos.

• Role: turning point
• In the article: Writing after the Paris attacks, Wright traces modern terrorism to Afghanistan: the US funded the Mujahedeen against the Soviets and then left rather than rebuild, and those fighters became the Taliban and Al Qaida.
• Why it matters: It is the first link in the essay’s chain from abandoned chaos to terror.