Afghanistan map

Events Leading Up to the War against Afghanistan

By namv

  • Death of Ahmad Shah Massoud

    Suicide assassination of anti-Taliban activist Ahmad Shah Massoud (he had survived 26 prior assassination attempts).

  • 9/11 attacks

    Attacks planned by Osama bin Laden carried out through his terrorist group, al Qaeda.

  • U.S. Department of State, Memorandum," Action Plan as of 9/13/2001 published

    Plan of how to deal with the attacks/which international leaders to meet/foregin affairs

  • "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists" was passed an signed by Bush and Congress

    This bill allowed the use of power of the United States Armed Forces against those responsible for the attacks on September 11, 2001

  • The Office of the Secretary of Defense, Memorandum, "Strategic Guidance for the Campaign Against Terrorism

    Purposes included preventing more attacks against the U.S. and "encouraging populations dominated by terrorist organizations or their supporters to overthrow that domination," and "prevent[ing] or control[ing] the spreading or escalation of conflict."

  • Afghanistan offered to try bin Laden in court but only if the US provided evidence of his crimes

    US did not hand over evidence.

  • Office of the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld to Douglas Feith, "Strategy," Attachment, "U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan,"

    Outline of the US retaliation plan. It stresses annhilation of the Taliban and al Qaeda but does not commit to post-annihilation rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan. "The USG [U.S. Government] should not agonize over post-Taliban arrangements to the point that it delays success over Al Qaida and the Taliban." "The U.S. should not commit to any post-Taliban military involvement since the U.S. will be heavily engaged in the anti-terrorism effort worldwide."

  • Creation of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)

    The ISAF was created to assure that the Afghan Interim Authority kept their level of security.

  • Snowflake Memorandum

    Donald Rumsfeld sent out a memorandum voicing his concern that Russia and Iran had definitive plans for Afghanistan, but the US did not.

  • Afghan Supplemental Cable

    U.S. Ambassador Ronald R. Neumann is worried about the fact that American is not putting its full effort and resources into helping the private sector in Afghanistan "We have dared so greatly, and spent so much in blood and money that to try to skimp on what is needed for victory seems to me too risky."