US Invasion of Afghanistan

1. US Invasion of Afghanistan By: Jackson Wright

2. Factors Leading Up to the Invasion • During the Clinton Administration the US lowered financial support for Afghanistan and favored Pakistan • Afghan people created a dislike for Americans (helped start anti-American terrorist organizations) • October 15, 1999- US officially titled the Taliban and al-Qaeda as terrorist organizations • United Nations Security Counsel initiates resolution 1267 putting sanctions on the two terrorist organizations (Bruno)

3. Factors Leading Up to Invasion(cont.) • September 9, 2001- al-Qaeda assassinates Ahmad Shah Massoud(anti- Taliban leader in Afghanistan) • September 11, 2001- al-Qaeda attacks the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on US soil • September18, 2001- President Bush signs a joint resolution act enabling the use of force against those responsible for 9/11 (Bruno)

4. 9/11 • September 11, 2001-19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked 4 airliners in pursuit of destroying several US facilities • 2 planes hit the World Trade Center, 1 hit the Pentagon, and the last plane was brought down in Pennsylvania by brave passengers • Over 3,000 lives were killed including over 400 policeman and fire fighters • 9/11 attack was the biggest factor to US invasion of Afghanistan (Bruno)

5. The War • October 7, 2001- US and Great Britain begin to bomb Taliban forces in Afghanistan(main goal was control, command, and communication of Taliban) • Fall of Kabul and other large Afghan cities foreshadows end of Taliban rule. In response, Taliban used counter offensive • December 9, 2001- end of Taliban rule in Afghanistan (Bruno)

6. The War (cont.) • May 1, 2003- Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld declares an end to major combat in Afghanistan • July 2006- Taliban and al-Qaeda forces begin to come back into Afghanistan and wage war again mostly through suicide bombings and guerilla tactics (Bruno)

7. Obama killed Osama • The leader of al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden was killed May 1, 2011 in his home in Pakistan • Many politicians called for end of Afghanistan war • Many people believe this is the turning point to the end of the wars in the middle east (Bergmann)

8. Impact of Invasion • Over $500 billion dollars spent by US government • March 2002- the Security Council established the United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan to manage all of the UN’s relief, recovery, humanitarian, and reconstruction of Afghanistan • UN has created an election operation in Afghanistan to register voters and organize elections (Harvey)

9. Impact of Invasion (cont.) • Thousands of innocent Afghan and Pakistani civilians killed • US and NATO forces killed ¼ of all civilians (Taliban killed ¾) (Harvey)

10. War Today • War today in Afghanistan is mostly fought with guerilla tactics, improvised explosive devises(IED), and suicide bombings • The Afghan security forces have now picked up most of the fighting. However, they are still assisted by NATO forces in the field("UN Involvement in Afghanistan”). • Afghan forces outnumber Taliban forces 12:1(“International, Afghan Forces Outnumber Taliban 12-1" )

11. War Today (cont.) • Support of war has decreased due to the US and UN bombings of innocent civilians • Some NATO allies have already pulled out • Many people suggest the invasion campaign is not producing the democracy, prosperity, and security that was promised ("UN Involvement in Afghanistan”)

12. Current Conditions with Afghanistan Government • Since the fall of Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2001, the US and Afghan governments have worked hard together against terrorist organizations and have worked to ensure that Afghanistan is no longer “a safe haven for terrorists”(“Joint Declarations of the United States-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership”) • The Joint Declarations of the United States-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership is to ensure Afghanistan’s long term democracy, economy, and security ("Joint Declaration of the United States-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership”)

13. Current Conditions with Afghanistan Government (cont.) • Us plans to help Afghanistan with • Reconstruction and investments • Create a trade center between Asia and Africa • Organize, train, and equip Afghan security forces • Encourage US businesses to create sectors in Afghanistan • Share Intelligence • Create a lasting future in Democracy ("Joint Declaration of the United States-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership”)

14. Afghani Life • Many new facilities and parks are being built in the country • Many people must live with amputated limbs and cannot receive the best medical treatment • Democratic government continues to develop and grow throughout country (Harvey)

15. Afghan Life (cont.) • Opium is main agricultural crop of Afghanistan(used in heroin) • Education standards are improving to assist the 70% of people who are illiterate • Many countries are trying to invest in Afghanistan’s high amount of lithium found in most batteries (Bergmann)

16. Future US involvement • Barack Obama plans to pull out most American forces by 2014 • Post 2014 the US will continue to give training and equipment to Afghan security forces. US will also continue to give financial support (Bergmann)

17. Works Cited • Bergmann, Christina. "The US and the Future of Afghanistan." Deutsche Welle. Deutsche Welle, 01 Nov. 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. • Bruno, Greg. "US War in Afghanistan." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Nations, 2012. Web. 23 Feb. 2013. • Harvey, Katherine. "Afghanistan, The United States, and the Legacy of Afghanistan’€™s Civil War." Stanford University. Stanford University, 05 June 2003. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.

18. Work Cited (cont.) • "International, Afghan Forces Outnumber Taliban 12-1." Fox News. FOX News Network, 27 Oct. 2009. Web. 03 Mar. 2013. • "Joint Declaration of the United States- Afghanistan Strategic Partnership." Afghanistan Online. N.p., 23 May 2005. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. • "UN Involvement in Afghanistan." Global Policy Forum. Global Policy, 2011. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.