War+in+Afghanistan

=﻿ @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6MAkeXVeCQby (Austin Pallo), (Jake Higman), (Brad Lewis), (Jake Maxey)=

=__Overview__=

For 10 years now, America has been involved in a controversial war in Afghanistan. Despite mass criticism, and many protests, our government feels that it’s constantly necessary to remain there, even when we make no progress. It all began on what is arguably the worst day in America’s modern history; The terrorist based attack on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001, killing roughly 3,000 people. The attacks were executed by al-Quaeda, an extremist organization located in Afghanistan. Only one week later, President Bush announces the beginning of a war with al-Quaeda that will take place in Afghanistan, meanwhile warning another terrorist regime, the Taliban that they must take our side or “share in their (al-Quaeda) fate.” (McMahon, Event 3). They refuse our offer immediately. It isn’t until October 7th, that we actually attack, with Operation Enduring Freedom. Along with British support, the Taliban were victims of huge amounts of bombing. Actual ground troops didn’t show up until October, 19th. Around this time, America obtained reason to believe that al-Quaedan leaders were hiding in Afghanistan mountains, and that becomes the official target. The Taliban quickly cease to exist, and for a while pose no threat, while the al-Quaedans in charge are still in hiding. On December 3rd, the Battle of Tora- Bora began, and ensued for two weeks. This battle “results in a few hundred deaths and the eventual escape of Bin Laden,” (McMahon, Event 7). He is not heard of again, until October 29th, 2004. Bin- Laden releases footage from an unknown location in Afghanistan. “At one point, he mentioned both President Bush and Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry. ‘Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands. Any nation that does not attack us will not be attacked,’ Bin Laden said in the video.” (CNN, 1). Around this time, the Taliban start to grow in numbers, and once again become a dangerous, powerful threat to the security of The United States. It is also when Afghanistan civilians begin to complain about abuse from U.S. soldiers. These complaints were not taken seriously until August 22nd, 2008, when 140 Afghanistan civilians in the Western Herat Province were killed under the commands of General Stanley A. McChrystal. The attacks were drawn from bombings by plane. No charges were instilled. During President Obama’s presidency, 17,000 more troops are sent to Afghanistan, and a new policy is created. “The strategy urges the passage of increased aid to Pakistan and a strict standard of measuring progress in fighting al-Qaeda and the Taliban.” (McMahon, Event 26). These plans lead to the discovery of Osama Bin Laden’s location, a Mansion in Northern Pakistan, where he is killed on May 1st, 2011 by U.S forces. Today, the war continues. The United State’s main goal is to eliminate the Taliban and al - Qaeda as a threat to U.S. security. Based on current events military leaders are convinced that the enemy has moved to Pakistan and lately troops are simply fighting some criminals, rather than the extremists that they came for.(Terkel, Huffington Post

The war in Afghanistan was because of a plot called "attack on 9/11", plotted by a man named Osama Bin Laden. He plotted a terrorist attack on multiple sites in the united states. The terrorists took over 4 planes and were to crash them to certain targets. Three of the 4 targets were hit. The world trade center was hit twice and the petagon was hit. The other plane did not reach it's destination and crashed in southwest pennsylvania and many people think that it's true destination was for the white house. The Passangers of the plane stopped the terrorist from hitting the white house or it's true target by crashing the plane and sacrficing themselves. After the attack President Bush declared war on Afghanistan because that is were the terrorist are from. The United States got Billions of dollars in debt for the war in Afghanistan and the war is still going on and the debt increases. It has been about 10 years now and the war has continued. Since October 2001 through April 2011 1,475 U.S. troops were killed in Afghanistan. Nearly 905 of them were killed since Obama had been elected. President Obama escalated the war in December 2009 when he had announced that he was sending 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan bringing the total number of U.S. forces in that country to about 100,000. Since Obama was elected the involvement in the war in Afghanistan went up.

In the first throws of the War on Terror, the United States military invaded Afghanistan in order to rout out Al Qaeda terrorist cells and camps and to eliminate Taliban control of the region.

The Ten years America has spent in afganistan has mainly been formed from the terrorist attacks on the twin towers. This attack was formed by a group called the al-Quaeda led by osama bin laden. Shortly after 9/11 Bush gave premission to start to engage in Afganistan. Ground units did not make it to Afganistan until october 7th. Due to the massive amount of bombings on the taliban. The Taliban quickly went into hiding and noone herd from them until Dec 3. In which the U.s started to become fully involved in Afganistan. Bin Laden then gained control of Taliban he even stated this to president Bush "Your security is in your own hands. Any nation that does not attack us will not be attacked,’ Bin Laden said in the video.” (CNN). The Taliban bcame very strong and grew in numbers unlike never before.Ever since then a little over 1000 troops were killed in Afganistan. President Obama has also sent over 15,000 troops to aid in Afganistan in hope of ending the war. Obama also gave the orders to kill Osama bin Laden. Which the Navy seals did not fail they killed him. [] • [|http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warbriefing/] http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/asia/afghanistan/

• [] [] 9/11 is to be believed to start the afghanistan war which was planned way before 9/11

The U.S. position is to deny safe haven to al Qaeda and deny the Taliban the ability to overthrow the Afghan government.__[]__

The war in Afghanistan started back in October of 2001, as a response the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. President Bush's response is quick and decisive

[] This person responible for the attack on 9/11 Osama Bin Laden. Although many people believe that they will just find someone to replace them.

"One man does not make this war on terrorism," said U.S. Major General John Campbell, commander of the international forces in eastern Afghanistan. "They'll find somebody to replace him." Campbell said the loss of bin Laden could hurt al Qaeda's ability to raise money, but added: "I don't think the war's over. I don't think the loss of bin Laden causes us to change our strategy."

[] The 9/11 attacks thought to have started the war were very damageing and destroyed parts of important buildings like the pentagon and the world trade centers. The centers colapsed and killed many people.

President Bush starts the war and here is his speech. []

**__Source Annotation__** Summary: An interactive timeline by the Council on Foreign Relations with 34 events, form 1999 to 2011's death of Osama. Asses: This is arguably the best source for an unbiased opinion of all major events that took place during the War in Afghanistan. Reflect: My only question, is 'What is our primary goal in Afghanistan?'
 * U.S. War in Afghanistan: Timeline on CFR**

Summary: This is an article written in 2004 by CNN, about the indications of future terrorist attacks found in the video Osama Bin Laden released several days before. It tells the reader what Osama said in the videos, and what they could possibly mean. It's helpful as a perspective from the past, and what Osama was trying to tell the world. Asses: There was a lot of good info, but CNN is very biased. Reflect: Based on when this was written, I don't have any questions.
 * Bin Laden: Al Qaeda motivated to strike U.S. again**

**Bob Corker: U.S. Military Leaders Frustrated With War In Afghanistan, Huffington Post** **Summary:** This is a recent article written on the current events in Afghanistan. Where on a visit to Afghanistan, Sen. Bob Corker(R-Tenn) finds that generals are frustrasted, because of one thousand five-hundred prisoners only eighty are extremists the rest are just criminals caught by US forces. And that US forces should be moved to Pakistan where Al-Qaeda actually is. **Asses:** The Huffington Post is a respectable, reputable source that is citing a senator's visit and his report on what the current field generals are experiencing. **Reflect:** Why is it that we try to maintain relations with Pakistan, when we know that they support the terrorists and wont allow the US that start wider operations within Pakistan?

 **Is an Oil Pipline Behind the War in Afghanistan?**
 * Summary:** There is heavy suspcion that the war in Afghanistan has been continueing at a fast pace because of the fact that The United States has been building a oil pipeline to take oil from Afghansitan
 * Asses:** The source seems very reliable and is one of the first sites that comes up on google. I checked it out and it seems like a good source.
 * Reflect:** I think that this may be true because of the high oil need in america also the war has cost way to much and I think that we would have stopped a long time ago if it was just for pay back for something that occured ten plus years ago.

=__Reflections and Conclusions__=

After researching and writing about the issues that are currently going on in Afghanistan, I have concluded that we should be taking completely different tactics on the war. The only people that I blame for this aren't those involved in the Bush administration though, it's the terrorsists themselves. We can't go blaming each other, when it was the terrorists that caused us to make stupid post-9/11 decisions. It was exactly what they wanted us to do. I don't know exactly what we should be doing instead of using our current tactics, but that's why I'm not President.

Based on the evidence and other research, I have come to the conclusion that the job is done in Afghanistan, we need move the majority of our forces out of the country. While the need for security forces is still there. The issue of terrorism is not, it has moved to Pakistan. How to handle this situation though is in the hands of American leaders.

After researching I come to the conclusion that The war in Afghanistan has been going on to long for big terrorist attack. It seems like the United States has gotten themselves into a major war if they are wasting billions of dollars and troops to fight in Afghanistan. I think that the war is continueing mainly for the fact that America is trying to steal oil by using a pipeline. It just seems a little bit much for something that has happened a long time ago. I also noticed while researching that Obama, the president that has tried to stablize the economy has had more invovlement in the war by sending over more troops. There is also a theory that this may be going on in Iraq. That is what I think.

After Researching I Feel Afganistan was never the problem just Osama and his gang were. They provoked the u.s to come to their country we would have never messed with them in the first place. We have always had control of Afganistan with all the money we put into it I think its time the U.s moves to a more dangerus target. =__Multimedia__= [] These are videos of Osama Bin-Laden found after his death. I think that it is weird to see a 'human' side of him.

@http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6MAkeXVeCQ The first video seen of Osama. In it, he threatens America's security, and takes credit for 9/11.

[] This video shows what the majority of Americans think about the war in Afghanistan. //check above//

[] == Hopefully the site is **Legit** but there's not much to it. It'll tell you how much the war in Afghanistan cost the us right now. //check above// [] This is avideo of a major battle in Afganistan

=__Works Cited__=

"Bin Laden: Al Qaeda Motivated to Strike U.S. Again - CNN." Featured Articles from CNN. 30 Oct. 2004. Web. 22 May 2011. []. Bill Sardi. "Is an Oil pipleine Behind the War in Afghanistan?". LewRockwell.com. 15 Octuber 2001. Web. 23 May 2011. []

Edwin Mora. "2011 On Pace To Be Deadliest Year So Far for U.S. Troops in Afghanistan". CNSnews.com. 3 May 2011. Web. 23 May 2011. []

Bruno, Greg. "U.S. War in Afghanistan." Www.csf.org. Council on Foreign Affairs. Web. 22 May 2011. [].

Terkel, Amanda. "Bob Corker: U.S. Military Leaders Frustrated With War In Afghanistan." [|www.huffingtonpost.com]Web. 05/10/11. []

War in Afganistan Web may 23rd  []