The US Goes to War in Afghanistan

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The US Goes to War in Afghanistan
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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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.

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Goals

• Capture Osama Bin Laden
• Remove Taliban from power
• Disband Al-Qaeda / prevent their operation in
  Afghanistan

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Guerilla Warfare

• Non-uniformed combatants
• Hit and run tactics
• Improvised Explosive Device (IEDS)
• Ambush
• Then mix with population
• Effect
• Frustration
• Whos the enemy?
• Increased civilians killed (collateral damage)

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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

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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

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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

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President Obamas Decision

• Leave Afghanistan
• Keep the status as-is
• Increase troops (as requested)
• What would you do? Why?
• What would the consequences be?

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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