Afghanistan: The Birthplace of Global Jihad

Afghanistan has shaped the modern history of global terrorism more than any other country. It was here that Al-Qaeda emerged, Osama bin Laden found sanctuary, and the ideas behind the September 11 attacks took root. Two decades of international military intervention failed to prevent the Taliban's return to power, raising profound questions about the limits of Western influence.

Drawing on rare documentary footage from Afghanistan, Itai Anghel traces the country's turbulent history and explores the ideological foundations of global jihad. Beyond the battlefield, the lecture examines why Afghanistan has repeatedly defeated foreign powers, from the British Empire and the Soviet Union to the United States, and why its political and religious movements continue to influence conflicts across the Middle East and beyond.

This lecture provides essential historical context for understanding one of the world's most strategically important and misunderstood countries.