INVASION IN AFGHANISTAN

Why did President Bush decide to invade Afghanistan in 2001?

Why did President Bush decide to invade Afghanistan in 2001?

Introduction

Terrorism means violence against a ruling system (political, economic, or social) to air grievances and compel change. It has been used throughout modern history by political and religious extremists. Terrorist acts are often aimed at government property or major public spaces; some attacks are perpetrated against government officials while others are committed against civilians. “Global War On Terror” (GWOT) began with the al-Qaeda terrorist attacks on targets in New York and Washington DC on 11 September 2001. Although Islamist terrorist attacks hade been made against US targets around the world through the 1990s, the successful attacks upon US soil galvanised a response on the part of the Bush administration and many of its traditional allies and partners (Bowley 2012) .

Discussion

US-led military action against Afghanistan beginning 7 October 2001. This first strike in the war on terror followed the refusal of the Taliban regime to surrender Saudi-born terrorist Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al-Qaeda terrorist network responsible for the attacks on New York City and Washington, DC, on 11 September 2001. The Taliban regime was deposed and replaced by a United Nations-endorsed interim administration. Afghanistan held its first national presidential elections on 9 October 2004. The government's authority beyond the capital, Kabul, began slowly to improve, but there remained security concerns across the country, and reconstruction depended heavily on international aid. (Indurthy 2011, 7-47)

Build Up To Military Action

On 17 September, Pakistan delivered a US ultimatum to the Taliban that they should hand over bin Laden or face massive retaliation by the USA and its allies. Taliban mullahs (clerics) rejected the US demand. On 24 September, US president George W Bush announced a freeze on the financial assets of bin Laden and more than two dozen suspected terrorists and their organizations. The next day Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with the already isolated Taliban regime and thousands fled Kabul for the Pakistani border, fearing imminent US air strikes. In addition to US forces deployed for the campaign, the UK contributed 4,200 ground troops. Other European countries also agreed to send military personnel: France offered 2,000 troops, Germany 3,900, and Italy 2,700. Australia subsequently also committed 1,550 of its forces. (Walt, 2010)

Strikes Begin

On 7 October, assisted by the UK and using bases in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the US began the 'Operation Enduring Freedom' military offensive in Afghanistan. Night- and day-time strikes, using bombers and cruise missiles, hit targets associated with Taliban and al-Qaeda, including terrorist training camps, air defences, and communication facilities. After a week of strikes on the cities of Kabul, Kandahar, and Jalalabad, the Taliban offered to hand over bin Laden to a third party, but Bush rejected any negotiation and the bombing continued. Muslims around the world reacted angrily to the attacks, taking to the streets and burning US flags. Anti-US riots also took place across Pakistan, the USA's key diplomatic ...