Standards SS7H2 The student will analyze continuity and change in Southwest Asia (Middle East) leading to the 21st century. d. Explain U.S. presence and interest in Southwest Asia; include the Persian Gulf conflict and invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Operation Enduring Freedom

Taliban (1996) extremely religious group anti-American established power in Afghanistan Harbored al-Qaeda Osama bin Laden goal was to end Western influence in Middle East

The U.S. government (1996) Identified & credited as responsibile  September 11 th, 2001 attacks  World Trade Center  Pentagon  Attempted White House (PA plane crash)

Al-Qaeda Osama bin Laden

al-Qaeda targeted three USA locations for terrorist attacks Four hijacked planes Two crashed into World Trade Center, New York City Third crashed into Pentagon, VA, near Washington, DC. Fourth intended target was White House crashed in rural PA Over 3,000 people were killed in these attacks

The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him. -- U.S. President George W. Bush

According to U.S. government sources Taliban allowed bin Laden & followers to hide in Afghanistan mountains October 2001 Reasons U.S. troops entered Afghanistan  disable the Taliban  locate bin Laden Taliban was defeated U.S. helped form a new democratic government bin Laden disappeared into hiding for ten years

Afghanistan in 2001

Hamid Karzai 2004 Afghanistan’s Democratically Elected President

May 2, Pakistan US military raided Osama bin Laden’s compound in. Bin Laden did not survive His remains were identified in Afghanistan Later buried at sea

Osama bin Laden’s Pakistani Compound

1. Who are the Taliban? 1. An Anti-American religious group who provided aid to al-Qaeda 2. Why did the US invade Afghanistan in 2001? 2.To disable the Taliban and locate bin Laden 3.How did the Afghanistan invasion end? 3.Taliban was defeated & US helped set up a democratic government in Afghanistan. Bin Laden was on the run for 10 years until he was captured & killed in 2011.