By: Andrea D. Melo

 An organization named Al-Qaeda is considered to have been formed in It set up training camps in Afghanistan and turned their attention to their new enemies in the West. The war in Afghanistan was triggered by the September 11 attacks on the U.S in 2001 by Al-Qaeda.  Another prelude to the war was the assassination of anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Shah Massoud on September 9,2009 by Al-Qaeda men. Massoud led the Northern Alliance as it battled the Taliban and had unsuccessfully sought greater U.S backing for his efforts. He was assassinated when he warned the U.S of a large scale attack being imminent.

 The invasion focused on ousting the Taliban government out of power which had ruled Afghanistan since 1996 and supported and protected Al-Qaeda.  The United States, United Kingdom, and the Afghan United Front launched “Operation Enduring Freedom” and the aim of the invasion was intended to target Osama Bin Laden’s organization which was based in the country.

 George W. Bush was the president of the United States when the September 11 attacks occurred. The administration of Bush wanted to first oust the Taliban from Afghanistan and dismantle Al-Qaeda.  Osama bin laden led the attacks on the United States on September 11 which triggered the conflict in Afghanistan.

 Ahmad Shah Massoud led the Northern Alliance which was a coalition of mujahideen militias that controlled a small section of Northern Afghanistan as it battled the Taliban.  Mullah Muhammad Omar was the leader of the Taliban and had implemented strict Islamic law upon the country.

 The War consisted of three Phases  The first phase- toppling the Taliban was successful and lasted about two months.  The second phase, from 2002 to 2008, was marked by a U.S strategy of defeating the Taliban militarily and rebuilding core institutions of the Afghan state.  The third phase, began in 2008 and accelerated with Obama’s 2009 decision to dramatically increase the U.S troop presence in Afghanistan.

 After Bush demanded that Taliban Leader Mullah Mohammed Omar surrender all the leaders of Al-Qaeda, Omar refused and U.S officials began implementing a plan for war.  On October 7, 2001 the U.S government launched military operations in Afghanistan. Teams from the CIA’s Special Activities Division were the first U.S forces to begin combat Operations in Afghanistan.

 The U.S began bombardment of Afghanistan causing Taliban forces to abandon their stronghold in Kandahar. On December 22, 2001 Hamid Karzai was sworn in as president of the new Afghan government.  After the invasion on Taliban and Al-Qaeda installations in Kabul, Kandahar, Jalalabad, Konduz, and Mazar-e-Sharif, the Taliban called these actions “an attack on Islam” and bin Laden called for a war on the entire non- Muslim world.

And tonight, the United States of America makes the following demands on the Taliban: Deliver to United States authorities all the leaders of al Qaeda who hide in your land. Release all foreign nationals, including American citizens, you have unjustly imprisoned. Protect foreign journalists, diplomats and aid workers in your country. Close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan, and hand over every terrorist, and every person in their support structure, to appropriate authorities. Give the United States full access to terrorist training camps, so we can make sure they are no longer operating. These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion. The Taliban must act, and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate. -President George W. Bush : Declaration of War on Terrorism

 On May 1,2003 the U.S declared that major combat operations were over and that they should encourage more nations to join the international reconstruction effort in the country.  On January 4, 2004 a new constitution was approved for Afghanistan.  On December 7, 2001 bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar escape after Kandahar falls.

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