The War On Terror President George W. Bush & President Barak Obama

attacks on the US - WTC - Penatgon - Pennsylvania

Afghanistan

Afghanistan First on the ground was the CIA (quickest response) After one month Dept of Defense takes over and focus turns to Tora Bora region –To large of region > not enough forces and Bin Laden escapes to Pakistan

Afghanistan Get the Taliban on the run Gather up Al Queda and Taliban leaders –Military trials with Rumsfeld as jury/judge (Dick Cheney’s idea) –Extraordinary Rendidtion: moving terrorists to allied countries and tortured for info

Iraq and WMDs Bush states that there are links between Saddam Hussain and Al Queda CIA doesn’t find any connection Dick Cheney doesn’t trust CIA findings> is very influential on Bush Defense says they got info on connection from detainees (tortured) CIA vs. Defense (Tenet vs. Rumsfeld (and Cheney)

Trouble in Iraq Decisions on how the war should be fought caused problems –General Tommy Franks want to fight an aggressive war and Rumsfeld wanted less aggressive with smaller force –145,000 and slow moving

Trouble in Iraq Debate in Bush’s War Cabinet between how Iraq should be run after the war: –Colin Powell (Sec of State): if we break up Iraq we would own it …wanted UN to make decisions –Rumsfeld: take out Saddam Hussain and WMD –Sept 2002 Bush asks UN to go into Iraq and look for WMD

War on Terror Established Guantanamo Bay as a prison for terror suspects Terror tactics to get info Used religion to get info

Trouble in Iraq Cheney and his office tried to control CIA info and what was being reported to Senate> used a media blitz to get public support 3/7/03> final ultimatum to Saddam ( we knew where Hussain was but Bush orders us not to get him because he gave 48 hours) 3/9/03> 8 PM Bush orders troops into Iraq –Attacked minutes after 48 hour deadline

Shock and Awe 3 weeks of constant bombardment Saddam Hussain and Iraqi Army disappear Mass chaos > no order > US military only had 7,000 troops –No Iraqi assistance –Plan was to hand over control to Iraqi National Congress but a major argument between State Dept and Defense Dept of who should control Iraq

Trouble in Iraq CIA doesn’t believe that there was a meeting with Saddam and Al Queda or WMDs War in Iraq is Rumsfeld’s War –100,000 troops in by end of 2003 –Didn’t have good intellingence –Establishment of Abu Grabe prison> severe interrogation to get info

End of Major Conflict May 2003> major conflict ends in Iraq US formed democratic government –Bremer is named ambassador and put in charge of stabilizing the gov’t –Dec 13, 2003> Saddam Hussain is captured….increased violence –Fallujah is a foreign policy nightmare to start 2004 Photos of interrogation are leaked More resistance

Democracy for Iraq June of 2004 a Constitution is written for Iraq Handing over control to Iraqi government=more violence as US tries to leave

Re-Election 2004 Bush gets re- elected and cleans house in his Cabinet Powell resigns > Condeleezza Rice takes over (former NSA)

New Policy for Iraq Clean - Hold - Build –Clean out insurgents –Hold territory –Build relationships

Civil War With the transition to Iraqi government> civil war erupts –Sunnis vs. Shi’ites –Al Queda supports the Sunni’s –Shi’ite politician wins election in Iraq –Civil war continues with US leaving –Blame for continual violence and problems shifts to Rumsfeld> resigns in ’06 –2007> more focus on clean-hold-build and increases troops in Iraq –Bush declares no defeat just a stalemate

Obama’s War President Obama re-focus on Afghanistan –7-2-09> 4000 Marines into southern Afghanistan (Helmund Province) to drive out Taliban –Heavy fighting in tough conditions –Primary job was connecting with the people and protect from Taliban threats (trusting US soldiers)

Obama’s War General David Petraeus giving command of US troops in Afghanistan –Trying to humanize troops to make connections with the people

US Relationship with Afghanistan 50’s and 60’s US helped build canals and dams in Helmund Province (most fertile part of Afghanistan) 50’s and 60’s US helped build canals and dams in Helmund Province (most fertile part of Afghanistan) 70’s-80’s Us supplied Afghans who resisted Russian Communism

Obama’s War Richard Hollbrook –Special ambassador to Afghanistan –Started nation re-building –Major problems: Hamad Karzai and Pakistan –Karzai is President of Afghanistan but gov’t is very corrupt > people trust Taliban more than Afghan government

Obama’s War Pakistan –Safe haven for Taliban (where US found Bin Laden) –US put pressure on Pakistan but Pakistan still disclaims that they help Taliban and Al Queda –Many believe that US gov’t is too soft on Pakistani leaders

Obama’s War May 2, 2011 > US SEALs kill Bin Laden in Pakistan with letting Pakistan know > strained relations with Pakistan 66,000 troops in Afghanistan > President Obama said by 2014 he would reduce amount to 33,000.