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 Al-Qaeda – 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 anti-

US movements• The border areas are now

controlled by Taliban/ Al-Qaeda– 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 Al-

Qaeda– 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 re-conquer 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 Afghanistan2. Keep the status as-

is3. 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