War In Afghanistan Osama bin Laden— Planned 9/11 attacks. He was Saudi Arabian. Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces in Pakistan on May 1, 2011.

Afghanistan Background Once controlled by Persians and Mongols In 19 th century, British and Russia tried to control Independence from Britain in 1919, ruled by kings until 1973 Republic (unstable) until 1978 Kabul Capital is Kabul

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan Dec. 1979—Soviets invaded to establish/ support communist government –never established firm control

Continued upheaval mujahideenRebels called mujahideen, backed by the US, fought against the communists Soviets left in 1988; civil war continued Taliban Mujahideen organized into Taliban, controlled country from

Al Qaeda Terrorist organization supported by Osama bin Laden, responsible for 9/11 attacks International, with no central headquarters Taliban Oppressive government of Afghanistan until 2001; theocracy (government run by religious leaders); Allowed bin Laden and Al Qaeda to operate in Afghanistan

Terrorist Attacks Munich Olympics (1972) Munich Olympics (1972) Palestinian terrorists entered Israeli athletes’ barracks; killed two, and took 9 hostages. All nine were eventually killed. US Embassy, Iran US Embassy, Iran (1979) Islamic revolutionaries, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, attacked US embassy. They kept 52 hostages for 444 days. World Trade Center bombing World Trade Center bombing (1993) Bomb in parking garage of WTC, 6 people killed U.S. Embassy Attacks in Kenya & Tanzania U.S. Embassy Attacks in Kenya & Tanzania (1998) Bombs went off at embassies within 15 minutes of each other; planned by Osama bin Laden U.S.S. Cole U.S.S. Cole (2000) US Navy ship was attacked in Yemen, 17 sailors killed; planned by Al Qaeda under direction of Osama bin Laden

9/11/01 Four planes were hijacked in U.S. Two crashed into the World Trade Center, causing the Twin Towers to collapse. The World Trade Center was a symbol of American wealth and power.

One plane crashed into the Pentagon, the head- quarters of the U.S. military.

Flight 93 One plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania when the passengers fought back against the terrorists.

Operation Enduring Freedom War in Afghanistan US, with UN support, attacked because of the terrorist training camps run by bin Laden and allowed by the Afghan government; the Taliban had allowed 9/11 terrorists to organize

Operation Enduring Freedom The Taliban was overthrown and a new democratic government established. Hamid Karzai Hamid Karzai was elected and re-elected president of Afghanistan, but he has been widely suspected of supporting corruption. coup d’etat April/June 2014 elections: Karzai ineligible to run; no clear winner yet; future is not clear, and there are worries about an imminent coup d’etat

Why are we still at war in Afghanistan? To help support elected Afghan government until it is strong enough to provide security alone To fight insurgents (rebels or terrorists?) who are trying to overthrow the elected government; insurgents include members of the Taliban

Current Issues in Afghanistan US troops are scheduled to be withdrawn this year, from to 9,800 in 2015, to 4,900 in 2016, to just advisers after that Recently, increasing instances of attacks on US troops by people within ranks of Afghan military or police US troops have died in Afghanistan as of Wednesday, 8/20/14.