U.S. Invasion U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan of Afghanistan

By: Matthew By: Matthew DavisDavis

September 11, 2001September 11, 2001

Two men, Mohammed Atta and Two men, Mohammed Atta and Abdulaziz al-Omari, hijack a plane on Abdulaziz al-Omari, hijack a plane on September 11, 2001. The hijackers September 11, 2001. The hijackers crash into the North World Trade center crash into the North World Trade center building killing everyone on board and building killing everyone on board and people who were in the building. people who were in the building. Minutes later a second plane that was Minutes later a second plane that was hijacked crashed into the South tower hijacked crashed into the South tower adding to the number of deaths. As the adding to the number of deaths. As the whole country is in shock the president whole country is in shock the president takes action.takes action.

Preparing the U.S. for Preparing the U.S. for warwar

President Bush demands that the Taliban rulers turn President Bush demands that the Taliban rulers turn over al-Qaida leaders including Osama bin Laden. The over al-Qaida leaders including Osama bin Laden. The Taliban refuse to do so. President Bush addresses Taliban refuse to do so. President Bush addresses Congress to prepare America for war. U.S. military Congress to prepare America for war. U.S. military travels to Afghanistan and lead the rebel Northern travels to Afghanistan and lead the rebel Northern Alliance and other coalition forces to capture key cities.Alliance and other coalition forces to capture key cities.

Hide and seekHide and seek

The Taliban forces evacuate Kabul The Taliban forces evacuate Kabul and the fight moves into the Battle and the fight moves into the Battle of Tora Bora. The U.S. and Afghan of Tora Bora. The U.S. and Afghan forces attack the Taliban and al-forces attack the Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in a cave complex Qaida fighters in a cave complex southeast of Kabul in December. southeast of Kabul in December. Mullah Mohammed Omar and his Mullah Mohammed Omar and his forces evacuate the last Taliban forces evacuate the last Taliban stronghold leaving the U.S. unaware stronghold leaving the U.S. unaware

The PartnershipThe Partnership

The United States and Afghanistan signed the The United States and Afghanistan signed the Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States of America. A Partnership agreement that States of America. A Partnership agreement that demonstrates the United States’ enduring demonstrates the United States’ enduring commitment to strengthen Afghanistan’s commitment to strengthen Afghanistan’s sovereignty, stability, and prosperity and continue sovereignty, stability, and prosperity and continue cooperation to defeat al-Qaida and its affiliates.cooperation to defeat al-Qaida and its affiliates.

• Advancing Long-Term Security• Reinforcing Regional Security and Cooperation• Social and Economic Development• Strengthening Afghan Institutions and Governance

The Agreement signed affirms the cooperation The Agreement signed affirms the cooperation between Afghanistan and the United States. The between Afghanistan and the United States. The partnership is mainly based on mutual respect and partnership is mainly based on mutual respect and shared interests.  In this Agreement, the U.S. shared interests.  In this Agreement, the U.S. commits to the sovereignty, independence, territorial commits to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan.integrity and national unity of Afghanistan.

After years of war The U.S. has made a long-term commitment to help Afghanistan rebuild itself. The U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan is transitioning primary security responsibility to Afghan National Security Forces. The United States plans to remain politically, diplomatically, and economically engaged in Afghanistan for the long term. The U.S. and others in the international community currently provide resources and expertise to Afghanistan in a variety of areas. These areas include humanitarian relief and assistance, capacity-building, security needs, counter-narcotic programs, and infrastructure projects.

Afghanistan is still healing from the invasion in 2001. Even with the state of Afghanistan making steady progress and developments, Afghanistan remains a least-developing country.

Afghanistan’s situation has drastically improved over the years with the aid of the U.S.

During the rule of the Taliban before its invasion, During the rule of the Taliban before its invasion, Afghanistan had been in tragic conditions. The Afghanistan had been in tragic conditions. The Taliban had ignored the issues of their society Taliban had ignored the issues of their society while spending money on anti-social activities. while spending money on anti-social activities. Most of the Afghanistan population were poor, Most of the Afghanistan population were poor, uneducated, and unemployed. The main source uneducated, and unemployed. The main source of income was from illegal drug cultivation and of income was from illegal drug cultivation and trade. The people had no freedom whatsoever. trade. The people had no freedom whatsoever. They were brutally beaten and even killed if they They were brutally beaten and even killed if they were to go against the Taliban rules.were to go against the Taliban rules.

When the U.S. an its allies invaded Afghanistan When the U.S. an its allies invaded Afghanistan and removed the Taliban from power, creating and removed the Taliban from power, creating freedom for the people and destroying many freedom for the people and destroying many terrorist organizations. We brought a fully terrorist organizations. We brought a fully democratic government to Afghanistan while democratic government to Afghanistan while they trained Afghan forces. They had their they trained Afghan forces. They had their healthcare and education improved a healthcare and education improved a tremendous amount.tremendous amount.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120087842storyId=120087842

http://timeline.national911memorial.orghttp://timeline.national911memorial.org

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5380.htmhttp://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5380.htm

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/01/fact-sheet-us-afghanistan-2012/05/01/fact-sheet-us-afghanistan-strategic-partnership-agreementstrategic-partnership-agreement