The US Goes to War in Afghanistan
Background
• 1992: Osama Bin Laden is banned from Saudi
Arabia
– Criticizes government for allowing U.S. forces onto
Muslim soil
– Goes to Sudan
• 1996: The Taliban takes over Afghanistan
• 1996: Under pressure from the US, Bin Laden is
kicked out of Sudan
– Welcomed by the Taliban
– Operates Terrorists training centers for Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Attacks the US
• 1993: World Trade
Center (6 killed/
hundreds injured)
• 1998: Bombing of US
embassies in
Tanzania and Kenya
(over 200 killed)
• 2000: Bombing of the
USS Cole (17 killed)
September 11, 2001
• 3,057 Americans killed
• Largest attack on
American soil in almost
200 years
• President Bush vows that
the attackers will pay
• Suspicion goes to AlQaeda
– They soon take credit for
the attack
The Ultimatum
• President Bush informed the
Taliban that they must turn
over Bin Laden to the US or
they will face the
consequences.
– The United States will make
no distinction between the
terrorists who committed these
acts and those who harbor
them,“
• The Taliban offers to try Bin
Laden in their court according
to Shiria Law – refused
• Taliban offered to hand Bin
Laden to a third country for trial
under Shiria Law - Refused
October 2001: America attacks
• Massive air bombings
• January 2002: Ground
troops are sent into
Afghanistan.
– Britain joins with the US
– North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO)
follows:
• Canada, Germany,
France, Italy, Poland,
Australia, Spain,
Netherlands, Denmark
and 34 other nations.
Goals
• Capture Osama Bin
Laden
• Remove Taliban from
power
• Disband Al-Qaeda /
prevent their
operation in
Afghanistan
Initial
Results
• US forces overwhelm
the Taliban
• Taliban is removed
from power
• Al-Qaeda camps
destroyed
• Osama Bin Laden on
the run
• Life changes for those
in US controlled areas
The Hunt for Bin Laden
• Osama Bin Laden runs to the mountain region
called Tora Bora
– Cave Complex
• Area is bombed
• Special Forces sent to area with Afghan guides
• More troops requested- refused
– US policy focused on major cities
• Afghan guides turn on US troops
• Bin Laden escapes to Pakistan
Pakistan
• Government is allied with
US
• Population is divided
• Some areas support antiUS movements
• The border areas are now
controlled by Taliban/ AlQaeda
– Most attacks against US
troops staged out of
Pakistan
– Government refuses to
allow US troops to enter
Pakistan
Strategy
• Small outposts
spread throughout
Afghanistan
• Designed to:
– Prevent return of AlQaeda
– Remove Taliban
influence in area
• Patrol area towns
– Fight the Taliban
– Provide services to
the people
Guerilla
Warfare
• Non-uniformed
combatants
• Hit and run tactics
– Improvised Explosive
Device (IEDS)
– Ambush
• Then mix with population
• Effect:
– Frustration
– Who’s the enemy?
– Increased civilians killed
(collateral damage)
2003: US Goes to War in Iraq
• Resources dedicated
to Iraq
• End of 2003:
– 13,900 troops in
Afghanistan
– 140,000 troops in Iraq
• Taliban begins to reconquer areas they
lost
Afghanistan Government
• President Karzai elected
2004
– Corrupt government
• Turns many toward
Taliban for stability
• 2009 election
– Abdullah Abdullah
challenges the President
• Nov. 2009 President
Karzai wins
– Corrupt election
– Anger increases
After 8 Years of
War
• Troops in Iraq have been
reduced (staying out of
major cities)
• 38,000 troops in
Afghanistan
• Increased violence
– Taliban gaining power in
areas
– US casualties growing
• General McChrystal
requests 80,000 troops
President Obama’s Decision
1. Leave Afghanistan
2. Keep the status asis
3. Increase troops (as
requested)
What would you do?
Why?
What would the
consequences be?
Decision
• 30,000 additional troops
sent by early 2010 to
provide stability
– Goals
• train an Afghan army and
police force
• Afghan government to
provide increased services
• Conditions:
– President Karzai must work
to eliminate corruption
– 400,000 trained soldiers
and police
• Timeline: End of 2011