In this website we have not used some words commonly used in discussing Afghanistan. We avoid using the term tribe, preferring ethnic group. The latter is less Euro-centric and does not carry quite the same derogatory character. A link to a map of Afghanistan’s many ethnic groups is provided. We also avoid terrorist or terrorism. In the post-September 11th world these terms have been so readily applied that we feel they lack meaning. As an alternative, we hope the book and this website will help readers understand the peculiar combination of religious and political intensity that lends some contemporary Islamic movements a sense of urgency. Sometimes this is described as jihad, another difficult term. An Arabic word, jihad refers to a religious struggle, which can be personal or social. In the English-speaking press it is often translated as “holy war,” a translation which ignores the personal dimension which might be better translated as “self-control.” Even the social meaning can include community responsibilities and does not necessarily refer to violent acts.