Notes

Latin America:
After World War II, Afghanistan maintained its independence. Later, in the 1950s, Soviet influence increase. In the 1970s, a Muslim revolt threatens Afghanistan's communist regime. After 1979, there was a Soviet invasion of Afghanistan while the Soviets expected a quick victory, just like the United States in Vietnam. Afghan rebels, mujahideen or holy warriors, were supplied with American weapons. The United States was later involved when they believe that the Soviet's invasion was a threat to Middle Eastern oil. The United States' president, Jimmy Carter, wanted to gain control of the Persian Gulf. After that, the United States stopped their grain shipments and boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics. When the Cold War ends, the next Soviet president is Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s. In the 1980s, Gorbachev becomes president and withdrew all Soviet troops by 1989. "The Great Game" is when Great Britain and Russia wanted to see who can imperialize the Middle East. Before 1978, Afghanistan accepted Western culture. In 1978, a Soviet backed Communist party takes over Afghanistan. The communists in power have non-secular groups trying to take over. In December 25, 1979, the Soviet Union takes over Afghanistan. The five countries that backed up the mujahideen was Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Turkey, and China. Later, Osama Bin Laden traveled to Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan to fight with the mujahideen. In February 1989, the Soviet Union leaves. In 1996, the Taliban takes control of Afghanistan. One third of the Afghanistan population was lost because of the Soviet Union. However, not all died, some fled the country.