U.S. Involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq today

A Brief History

What you need to know

What were the causes and results of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars

BackgroundFrom May 1996, Osama bin Laden had been living in Afghanistan, along with other members of al-Qaeda, operating terrorist training camps in a loose alliance with the Taliban. The UN Security Council enforced financial and military sanctions over the Taliban to encourage them to turn over bin Laden for trial in the deadly bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa in August 1998, and close terrorist training camps.

September 11th

Investigators rapidly accumulated evidence implicating Osama bin Laden.

In a taped statement, bin Laden publicly acknowledged his and al-Qaeda's direct involvement in the 9-11 attacks.

In an audiotape posted on a website that the U.S. claims is "frequently used by al-Qaeda", on May 21, 2006, bin Laden said he had personally directed the 19 hijackers

September 20th, 2001 President Bush and Congress Deliver the following ultimatum to

the Talibandeliver al-Qaeda leaders located in Afghanistan to the United Statesrelease all imprisoned foreign nationals, including American citizensprotect foreign journalists, diplomats, and aid workers in Afghanistanclose terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and "hand over every terrorist and every person and their support structure to appropriate authorities"give the United States full access to terrorist training camps to verify their closure

The result?The Taliban refused to directly speak to Bush, stating that talking with a non-Muslim political leader would be an insult to Islam.The Taliban rejected the ultimatum on September 21, 2001, saying there was no evidence in their possession linking bin Laden to the September 11 attacks. On September 22, 2001 the United Arab Emirates, and on the following day, Saudi Arabia withdrew their recognition of the Taliban as the legal government of Afghanistan, leaving neighboring Pakistan as the only remaining country with diplomatic ties. On October 4, 2001, it is believed that the Taliban covertly offered to turn bin Laden over to Pakistan for trial in an international tribunal that operated according to Islamic Sharia law.

From 2001-2003

US invades October 7, 2001

Taliban loses strength and confidence.

Many Taliban captured or killed

2003-2005

After managing to evade U.S. forces throughout the summer of 2002, the remnants of the Taliban gradually began to regain their confidence and started to begin preparations to launch the insurgency.

Taliban forces began a recruitment drive in both Afghanistan and Pakistan to launch a renewed "jihad" or holy war against the Afghan government and the U.S-led coalition.

TodayPeace is still a long way offIn October 2001, polls indicated that about 88% of Americans backed the war in Afghanistan versus 10% who disapproved. A poll in August 2007 showed that 70% of Americans believed that the U.S. did not make a mistake in sending military forces to Afghanistan while 25% believed that it did. 2009 51% of Americans believe the war is worth fighting2010 34% of Americans support the continued war effort

US Causalities

1,273 US soldiers dead

8,825 wounded

Iraq War

2003 Invasion of Iraq

2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Poland and Denmark began officially on March 20, 2003.

This invasion launched the Iraq War

Why war?The official reason for the invasion was the claim, now proven unfounded, that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, which constituted a threat to world peace. U.S. President George W. Bush stated that the objective of the invasion was "to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people."

Results

No WMDs were found

Saddam Hussein captured and executed

Why did the U.S. remain in Iraq?

Helping to build a democracy

Ensure a secure land for the majority of the Iraqi people

Prevent Iraq from becoming a base for terrorists

US Pulls Combat Troops Out of Iraq

August, 2010

50,000 US troops remain to support and train Iraqi military

Statistics Today

Iraq War

U.S. Dead: 4,400+

U.S. Wounded: 27,004

Notebook Assignment #1

Iraq and Afghanistan

1. Why did the US go to war with Afghanistan?

2. What is your opinion regarding the invasion of Afghanistan by the US?

3. Why did the US go to war with Iraq?

4. What is your opinion regarding the invasion of Iraq by the US?