The
War in Afghanistan, which began on October 7, 2001 as the U.S. military
operation Operation Enduring Freedom, was launched by the United States with
the United Kingdom in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. The stated
purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and
remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda.
The United States' Bush Doctrine stated that, as policy, it would not
distinguish between al-Qaeda and nations that harbor them.
U.S.
Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment conduct a foot patrol
near Forward Operating Base Mizan, Afghanistan, Feb. 23, 2009. (U.S. Army
photo by Sgt. Christopher S. Barnhart)
Two
military operations in Afghanistan seek to establish control over the country.
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is a United States combat operation involving
some coalition partners and currently operating primarily in the eastern and
southern parts of the country along the Pakistan border. Approximately 28,300
U.S. troops are in OEF. The second operation is the International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF), initially established by the UN Security Council at
the end of December 2001 to secure Kabul and its surroundings. NATO assumed
control of ISAF in 2003. By January 12, 2009, ISAF had around 55,100 troops
from 41 countries, with NATO members providing the core of the force. The
United States has approximately 23,300 troops in ISAF.
SNOWY
EXIT U.S. soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division Personal Security Detail
exit a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to provide security in Bagram, Afghanistan,
Feb. 15, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Prentice C. Martin-Bowen
The
U.S. and the UK led the aerial bombing campaign, with ground forces supplied
primarily by the Afghan Northern Alliance. In 2002, American, British and
Canadian infantry were committed, along with special forces from several
allied nations. Later, NATO troops were added. The initial attack removed the
Taliban from power, but Taliban forces have since regained some strength.
U.S.
Army 1st Lt. Patrick Higgins (foreground) of 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry
Regiment surveys a village as Spc. Aaron Trapley and Sgt. Gary Fordyce provide
sniper overwatch and Sgt. Nicholas Gauthier provides security during a foot
patrol near Forward Operating Base Mizan, Afghanistan, on Feb. 23, 2009. DoD
photo by Sgt. Christopher S. Barnhart, U.S. Army.
The
war has been less successful in achieving the goal of restricting al-Qaeda's
movement. Since 2006, Afghanistan has seen threats to its stability from
increased Taliban-led insurgent activity, record-high levels of illegal drug
production, and a fragile government with limited control outside of Kabul. As
of end 2008, the war has been unsuccessful in its primary purpose of capturing
Osama bin Laden, while tensions have grown with regional ally Pakistan over
hot pursuit of the Taliban into Pakistani territory giving sanctuary to the
Taliban and Al Qaeda.
Getty
Images photographer John Moore reports from an embed with the U.S. miltary in
the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan.
Enemy
combatants for U.S. troops are on the rise in Afghanistan. Lara Logan reports
from a forward operating base near Pakistan (October 19, 2008)
U.S.,
Afghan Forces Launch Offensive Into Taliban Stronghold
By Jim
Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON,
July 2, 2009 – Thousands of American servicemembers and hundreds of
Afghan soldiers launched Operation Khanjar today to provide security to
the Helmand River Valley in southern Afghanistan.
The operation's name translates in English to "Strike of the
Sword."
Some 4,000
Marines, sailors and soldiers and 650 Afghan soldiers launched nearly
simultaneous air and ground assaults all along the river. One Marine was
killed and several others were wounded in early fighting, officials
said.
The forces, under the command of NATO’s International Security
Assistance Force, are entering areas where few – if any – coalition
forces have been in the past. Helmand province is a stronghold of the
Taliban, and the coalition mission is to secure the area and make it
safe for Afghans to live without the threats of militant groups.
“The operation in Nawa is going to be very effective,” Helmand Gov.
Gulab Mangal said. “The security forces will build bases to provide
security for the local people so that they can carry out every activity
with this favorable background and take their lives forward in peace.”
The troops are from the Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan, the
Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. Marine Aircraft Group
40 and Task Force Pegasus -- the 82nd Airborne Division Combat Aviation
Brigade -- provided aviation support.
This is the first operation to use the troops President Barack Obama
ordered to the area after taking office.
The operation is part of an overall NATO effort in to extend security to
the Afghan people in southern Afghanistan. Similar operations are under
way in other parts of Helmand and in Kandahar province, including the
British-led Operation Panchai Palang, which began last week.
The effort is designed to connect local Afghans with their legitimate
government while establishing stable and secure conditions for national
elections scheduled for August, as well as enhanced security for the
future, officials said.
“What makes Operation Khanjar different from those that have occurred
before is the massive size of the force introduced, the speed at which
it will insert, and the fact that where we go we will stay, and where we
stay, we will hold, build and work toward transition of all security
responsibilities to Afghan forces,” said Marine Brig. Gen. Larry
Nicholson, the brigade commander.
Officials said the focus remains true to counterinsurgency doctrine:
ensuring the safety, security and stability of the area. Once secure,
the British-run Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team in Lashkar Gah,
working with Afghan government officials, will follow up security gains
with economic and governance projects.
“The Taliban offer no future, no hope, and we will work to provide
immediate security gains to the local citizens of the Helmand River
Valley,” Nicholson said in a written statement.
Data
compiled from The British Antarctic Study, NASA, Environment Canada,
UNEP, EPA and other sources as stated and credited Researched
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