Overview
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Transcript of Overview
OverviewUnderstand the events and timeline of the U.S. involvement
in Afghanistan following the September 11th attacksUnderstand the changing nature of military aviation as
evidenced in the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan
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
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.
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
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
Afghan: Ground Experience: 2008
Afghan: Ground Experience: 2008
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
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
Afghanistan: Changing Airpower
Predator and Reaper UAVs