2. Overview Understand the events and timeline of the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan following the September 11 th attacks Understand the changing nature of military aviation as evidenced in the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan

3. U.S. War in Afghanistan Timeline: 2001 Sept 18: President Bush signs resolution for the use of force against those responsible for 9/11 Oct 7:U.S. Airstrikes begin against Taliban forces. Ground forces follow 12 days later Nov: Taliban retreat from Kabul into countryside supported by tribal warlords Dec 5: Hamid Karzai is named interim leader of UN backed Afghanistan government Dec: Battle of Tora Bora Begins

4. U.S. War in Afghanistan: Tora Bora: Dec 2001 U.S. airstrikes pound a series of cave complexes housing Al Qaeda and Taliban forces. U.S. airstrikes are supporting Afghan militia fighters on the ground. Less than 100 American commandos are on the scene Concerned that too many U.S. troops in Afghanistan would create an anti-American backlash and fuel a widespread insurgency the US SECDEF rejects a call for U.S. ground reinforcements to launch an assault on the cave complex or to block the mountain paths leading to sanctuary a few miles away in Pakistan. Rumsfeld relied on airstrikes and untrained Afghan militias to conduct the operation On or around December 16, bin Laden walks unmolested out of Tora Bora disappearing into Pakistan’s unregulated tribal area.

5. U.S. War in Afghanistan Timeline: 2002-2004 Mar: U.S. launches Operation Anaconda engaging Taliban forces in Paktia province. Pentagon signals shift in resources to Iraq Jun: Hamid Karzai is confirmed as President of Afghanistan Nov: U.S. Provisional Reconstruction Teams (PRT) begin work in Afghanistan Aug 2003: NATO assumes primary responsibility for Afghan security Jan-Oct 2004: New Afghan constitution is ratified and Karzai wins election

6. U.S. War in Afghanistan Timeline: 2005-2009 May 05: President Bush and Karzai declare a new strategic partnership. U.S. begins to train local Afghan security units Sep 05: 6 Million Afghans vote in election Jul-Nov: Violence surges in south. NATO tensions mount as member countries debate pulling back commitment May 07- Aug 08: Key Taliban leaders killed, but U.S. collateral damage to civilians increase as guerilla tactics change Feb 09: Obama agrees to send 17,000 troops to Afghanistan

7. Afghan: Ground Experience: 2008

9. U.S. War in Afghanistan Timeline: 2009-2011 Jul 09: The U.S. launches series of offensive in south to quell Taliban insurgency Aug-Nov 09: Karzai wins reelection. However the election is marred by allegations of fraud Jan – Feb 10: Violence in Kabul rises. U.S./NATO launches “Op Moshtarak” on last Taliban stronghold. Top Taliban Commander (Baradar) is captured Apr 10: Karzai claims UN/EU is rigging Afghan election. Relationship with U.S. under strain Jul 10: Deadliest month for U.S. troops. Taliban digging in o last few areas

10. U.S. War in Afghanistan Timeline: 2011 – 2014? On 1 May 2011, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is killed in Pakistan during a U.S. Special Operations strike Jun 11: President Obama announces U.S. withdrawal strategy. Troops are currently scheduled to start in July 12, with the last troops leaving in 2014 Jan 12 - Pres: Series of U.S. troop activities (Koran burning, Panjwai shooting, etc.) have stained U.S. relations with Afghan populace. $ Cost of War (2001-2011) $468Billon U.S. to complete withdrawal: 2014

12. Afghanistan: Changing Airpower Predator and Reaper UAVs