Blog #4: Recent Murder of Afghan Former President Increases Ethnic Tension

Alisha Lipscomb
9/23/11

              On September 20th 2011, the Taliban murdered former Afganistan  president Burhanuddin Rabbani.  There has been tension between the North and Taliban for years. Rabbani was president from 92'-96' during the countries bloody civil war. The people are upset with the North because for years their countrie has been a killing zone, while the leaders are not being directly affected. Afgan people said that they should get rid of the killers that halted the countries growth for years. For years, the North has tried to reconcile with the Taliban. With the murder of the former leader the Taliban has sent a clear message that peace is not an option. Two Taliban fighters that posed as insurgents entered to speak to Rabbani and had bombs hidden under their turbans. Now that the leader has been killed this send a message to Anti-Taliban forces that they can't rely on the governement. This will force them to form their own small groups which will further fuel ethnic division in Afghanistan.
              This is a global social issue because the Taliban is mudering country leaders leaving thousands of people in danger. They're not willing to negotiate until U.S troops leave which means that they can further murder and kill political leaders. This will soon be a major global social issue when the soldiers leave because there will probably be a bloody civil war that will further U.S involvement in Afghanistan. Multiple countries will be influenced because of U.S invovlement.