Before the September 11 attacks, many Americans believed that the United States, a country founded on bravery and freedom, was untouchable. On that terrible day, America was knocked off its pedestal and forced into the war on terror. Inadvertently, many Americans do not realize why this war was unique and unlike any other conflict the United States had experienced before. America now faces a new type of enemy: the Taliban, an organization known for its ruthless behavior and harsh attacks and led by the true nation of Islam. Many Americans wondered why such a violent organization would attack the United States, as well as what would drive an organization to resort to such evil tactics. In researching these questions, religion too often came into play. The Islamic nation appears to be the driving force in the war on terror. Religion has always been a controversial subject. Many have suffered and lost their lives because of their personal beliefs. Strangely, what is even more telling is that the Islamic nation plays a vital role in the war against terrorism. The Islamic nation has ties to some of the most dangerous and violent groups of people. Within the Islamic nation, there are a few groups known for terrorist behavior. The Taliban, Hamas and Hezbollah are the deadliest and most violent. For example, the Taliban was founded in 1994, which is quite young for an organization notorious for its violence. The Taliban began as a small group of students studying Islam in Afghan refugee camps (Berman 4). The Taliban were poor and initially had good intentions. They sought to provide services, both spiritual and tangible, to local residents...... middle of paper ......iron on the idea that religion plays a role in terrorist organizations. As Professor John Esposito of Georgetown University said, “So, is it religion that causes terrorism? Does Islam in particular have a terrorism problem? The question is simple but the answer is difficult to define. Of course, religion has its role to play in terrorist organizations, but the concept of terrorist groups composed only of radical members is absurd. Many members of these organizations are moderate and believe that attacks like those of September 11 are justifiable (Esposito 1). What many do not realize is that radicals simply use religion instrumentally (Esposito 1). Members of these organizations used religion to justify their actions. Comparably, many members of the Taliban and other organizations are considered fanatics..