American Boots On The Ground: Examining The U.S. Military Presence In Afghanistan

The War in Afghanistan was the longest war in US military history, lasting from 2001 to 2021. It was a response to the September 11 attacks, which were plotted by Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden from Afghanistan. The US-led coalition invaded Afghanistan, declaring Operation Enduring Freedom as part of the War on Terror, and toppling the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate. The conflict resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, including civilians, soldiers, and contractors. The US military suicide rate also climbed significantly since 2004, with four times as many service members dying by suicide than in combat. The war ended with the Taliban offensive in 2021, which overthrew the Islamic Republic and re-established the Islamic Emirate.

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 was a response to the 9/11 attacks

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 was a direct response to the 9/11 attacks.

On September 11, 2001, 19 Arab Muslim men, 15 of whom were from Saudi Arabia, carried out four coordinated attacks in the United States. Four commercial passenger jet airliners were hijacked. The hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and more than 2,000 people in the buildings. Both buildings collapsed within two hours from damage related to the crashes, destroying and damaging nearby buildings. The hijackers crashed a third airliner into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane, which the hijackers had redirected toward Washington, D.C., to target the White House, or the US Capitol. No one aboard the flights survived. The death toll among responders, including firefighters and police, was 836 as of 2009. Total deaths were 2,996, including the 19 hijackers.

Osama bin Laden planned and coordinated the attacks, and the US desire to hold him accountable became the casus belli for invasion. Historian Carter Malkasian writes that "seldom in history has one man so singlehandedly provoked a war."

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 was a direct response to the 9/11 attacks. The US declared a 'War on Terror' and subsequently led a multinational invasion of Afghanistan to destroy terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda, which had executed the attacks under the leadership of Osama bin Laden. The stated goal was to dismantle al-Qaeda and deny Islamist militants a safe base of operations in Afghanistan by toppling the Taliban government.

The Taliban regime was removed from power, and a new government was formed. The invasion was a striking military success for the Coalition. Fewer than 12 US soldiers died between October and March, compared to some 15,000 Taliban killed or taken prisoner. Special forces teams and their Afghan allies had done most of the work, and relatively few soldiers were required.

The US did not invade alone: it began with assistance from the UK, and eventually over a dozen more countries. The US and its allies drove the Taliban from power and built military bases near major cities across the country. The invasion effort made rapid progress for the next two months as the coalition captured Kabul on November 13 and toppled the Taliban by December 17, after which international military bases were set up near major cities across the country.

However, most members of al-Qaeda and the Taliban were not captured: during the Battle of Tora Bora, several fighters, including Osama bin Laden, the founder of al-Qaeda, escaped into neighbouring Pakistan or otherwise retreated to remote regions deep within the Hindu Kush.

The US-led coalition included the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and others

The US-led coalition included several other countries, notably the UK, Australia, Canada, France, and Germany. Here is a detailed overview of their involvement:

United Kingdom

The UK was involved in the conflict in Afghanistan against the Taliban and al-Qaeda from 2001 to 2014. British soldiers ended their combat operations in Afghanistan in 2014, but a contingent of armed forces remained in the country to train and assist Afghan security forces. In 2018, the number of UK troops in Afghanistan was increased to more than 1,000 for the first time in years. Theresa May committed 440 non-combat troops to the region, bringing the total to 1,100.

Australia

Australia's contribution to the war in Afghanistan is known as Operation Slipper (2001-2014) and Operation Highroad (2015-2021). Over the course of the operations, Australia deployed naval, air, and land forces that took part in combat and combat support operations as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). In 2009, the number of Australian personnel in Afghanistan peaked at around 1,550. A contingent of around 80 ADF personnel remained in Afghanistan as late as 2021 to train and advise Afghan forces.

Canada

Canada's role in the Afghanistan War began in late 2001 and ended in March 2014. Canadian soldiers were involved in identifying and neutralizing Al-Qaeda members and toppling the Taliban regime. Later operations focused on security, reconstruction, and training the Afghan National Army and police. The Canadian Armed Forces had the highest per-capita casualty rate among coalition members, with 159 Canadian soldiers dying on missions and another 22 in non-combat circumstances.

France

France was involved in the War in Afghanistan from late 2001 until fully withdrawing by 2014. They operated within two frameworks: the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), carried out by NATO on a United Nations mandate, and "Operation Enduring Freedom," under US command, as part of the War on Terror. In 2009, there were 4,000 French personnel deployed in Afghanistan, including air support. French forces supported anti-drug operations and surrendered prisoners captured during combat to Afghan authorities.

Germany

Germany was also part of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan. In 2009, Germany contributed 4,400 troops to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

The US-led coalition removed the Taliban from power and established the Islamic Republic

The US-led coalition invaded Afghanistan in October 2001, declaring Operation Enduring Freedom as part of the war on terror. The coalition forces supported the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance and expelled the Taliban and its allies from major population centres.

The Taliban had ruled Afghanistan since 1996, when they captured the capital, Kabul, and established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Taliban's rule was marked by a strict interpretation of Sharia law, which was widely condemned by the international community. The Taliban were also accused of committing massacres against civilians, denying UN food supplies to starving civilians, and destroying cultural monuments.

The US-led coalition's invasion of Afghanistan was a direct response to the September 11 attacks. The coalition forces removed the Taliban from power and established the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The coalition remained in Afghanistan, forming a security mission sanctioned by the United Nations, with the goal of creating a new democratic authority in the country that would prevent the Taliban from returning to power.

The Taliban regrouped and began a widespread insurgency against the new Afghan government and coalition forces. In 2007, large parts of Afghanistan had been retaken by the Taliban. In response, the coalition sent a major influx of troops for counter-insurgency operations.

In 2021, the Taliban launched an offensive that overthrew the Islamic Republic and re-established the Islamic Emirate.

The US-led coalition remained in Afghanistan to prevent the Taliban from returning to power

The Taliban was a predominantly Pashtun, Islamic fundamentalist group that ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. They imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, banning women from working outside the home, attending school, or leaving their homes without a male relative.

In 2001, the US-led coalition invaded Afghanistan and quickly overthrew the Taliban regime following its refusal to hand over terrorist leader Osama bin Laden in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. The Taliban regrouped across the border in Pakistan and began taking back territory.

The US-led coalition remained in Afghanistan, forming a security mission sanctioned by the United Nations. A new Afghan Interim Administration was established, and international rebuilding efforts were launched. The coalition aimed to create a new democratic authority in the country that would prevent the Taliban from returning to power.

However, the Taliban reorganized and began a widespread insurgency against the new Afghan government and coalition forces. They waged asymmetric warfare, fighting with guerrilla warfare in the countryside, suicide attacks against urban targets, and reprisals against perceived Afghan collaborators.

In response, the coalition sent a major influx of troops for counter-insurgency operations, with a "clear and hold" strategy for villages and towns. This influx peaked in 2011, with roughly 140,000 foreign troops operating under ISAF command across Afghanistan.

Despite the coalition's efforts, the Taliban continued to make gains. In 2021, they launched a broad offensive throughout the summer, successfully reestablishing their control over Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul. On August 15, 2021, the Taliban entered the capital, and the Afghan government collapsed.

The US-led coalition's failure to prevent the Taliban from returning to power can be attributed to various factors, including the Taliban's effective use of guerrilla tactics, the coalition's focus on counter-terrorism rather than nation-building, and the lack of a clear and unified strategy. Additionally, the coalition faced challenges such as the Taliban's safe havens in Pakistan and the complexity of the Afghan social, political, and economic landscape.

The Taliban insurgency intensified in 2021, coinciding with the withdrawal of US and allied troops

The Taliban's offensive was aided by several factors, including the Taliban's effective use of social media, their strategic choice to attack northern provinces, and their freedom of movement on Afghan highways. The Taliban's success was also due to a drop in US support, which removed technical, proprietary software, and logistics support, particularly aerial support, from the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Errors in the US coalition's training of the ANSF, as well as corruption within the ANSF, also contributed to the Taliban's success.

The Taliban's offensive resulted in the collapse of the Afghan government led by President Ashraf Ghani. The Taliban's victory had widespread domestic and international ramifications, particularly regarding human rights and the proliferation of terrorism.

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