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Article Contributor: Philip Kazmierczak, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Updated: 27 Feb. 2010
Page Outline:
Basic Facts
Began: October 7, 2001 as Operation Enduring Freedom
Rationale for Invasion: “Close terrorist training camps; hand over leaders of the al Qaeda network; and return all foreign nationals” – President George W. Bush on October 7, 2001.
Casualties: As of December 15th 2009, there have been 856 American deaths reported in or near Afghanistan.
Costs: As of the fiscal year 2008, Congress has allocated $189 billion for the War In Afghanistan.
Brief History
The present War In Afghanistan is a direct result of the attacks on the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001, though the CIA has conducted activities in Afghanistan for several decades. Prior to the current war, the last (official) use of force by the U.S. in Afghanistan took place on August 20, 1998. On that date, President William Clinton ordered a cruise missile strike on various al-Qaeda targets. The missile strike was preceded by terrorist attacks on United States’ facilities in Tanzania and Kenya.
In 2001, President Bush issued what is known as the “Bush Doctrine” as a justification to attack Afghanistan. The doctrine states that America has a right to secure itself against countries that harbor or give aid to terrorist groups. During a joint-session of Congress on September 20, 2001, Bush began to put his doctrine into practice declaring, “They [the Taliban] will hand over the terrorists or they will share in their fate.”
Budgeted Costs
(in Billions of dollars)
| Fiscal Year 01-02 | FY 2003 | FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 | FY 2008 | FY 2009 | FY 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20.8 | 14.7 | 14.5 | 20.9 | 19.1 | 39.1 | 43.4 | 55.2 | 72.9 |
What Is Washington Doing?
In February 2009, President Obama made the decision to deploy an additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan.
On March 27, 2009, President Obama addressed the American people about the War in Afghanistan stating, “we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future…”
On December 1, 2009, President Obama announced to the nation that he was sending another 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. Speaking to the American public, Obama declared, “America will have to show our strength in the way that we end wars and prevent conflict — not just how we wage wars.” According to Obama, eighteen months after the troops arrive in Afghanistan, the United States will begin to recall its forces. Through this surge and withdrawal policy, America hopes to reduce troop casualties and bring a measure of stability to the region.
Sources
Baker, Aryn and Loi Kolay. “The U.S. in Afghanistan: The Longest War. “ Web. November 13, 2009 http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1890243,00.html
“National Security Strategy Report.” – September 2002. Web. November 15, 2009. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/national/nss-020920.htm
“Operation Enduring Freedom U.S. Casualties.” Web. December 15, 2009. http://www.defense.gov/news/casualty.pdf
Belasco, Amy. “Congressional Research Service. The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11.” Web. December 15, 2009. http://ftp.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33110.pdf
“What’s New in the Strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.” Web. December 15, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Whats-New-in-the-Strategy-for-Afghanistan-and-Pakistan/
“The New Way Forward: The President’s Address.” Web. December 15, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/12/01/new-way-forward-presidents-address
Tristam, Pierre. “President Bush Launches Attack on Afghanistan.” Web. December 15, 2009. http://middleeast.about.com/od/afghanistan/qt/me081007b.htm
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