Summary
Highlights
On September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush learned of the attacks, which were swiftly identified as al-Qaeda's work. With al-Qaeda provided safe haven by the Taliban in Afghanistan, President Bush decided to go to war. This decision was met with broad public and political support, with only Representative Barbara Lee casting a dissenting vote, warning against perpetual war and unintended consequences.
The U.S. military responded quickly to the 9/11 attacks, launching strikes and deploying ground troops in Afghanistan. The invasion was initially successful, driving the Taliban from power and disrupting al-Qaeda. Despite Osama bin Laden's escape, the initial goal of preventing al-Qaeda from operating out of Afghanistan was achieved. However, President Bush then expanded the mission to 'nation-building,' aiming to transform Afghanistan into a stable democracy.
The nation-building efforts initially showed promise with improvements in education and health. However, as the Bush administration expanded the war on terror to Iraq, the Afghan government became plagued by corruption and mismanagement. The Taliban began to regain control of significant areas, as many Afghans lost faith in the government's ability to deliver. This led some to question the U.S. presence, suggesting it might have been time to leave.
By 2011, President Obama increased troop levels in Afghanistan by nearly 50,000 to counter the resurgent Taliban. Marine Captain Timothy Kudo recounts losing faith in the mission after a tragic incident involving civilian casualties. A significant development occurred in 2011 with the killing of Osama bin Laden. While many celebrated, some believed this marked the logical end of the war, questioning why the U.S. continued for another decade.
Jeffrey Eggers, from Obama's National Security Council, observed that defining success as perpetually preventing conditions for another 9/11 led to an endless war. Despite a troop surge failing to permanently push back the Taliban, troop levels were drawn down even as concerns grew about the Afghan army's capability. In 2021, President Biden, following plans from his predecessor Donald Trump, announced the full withdrawal of U.S. troops. This withdrawal quickly led to the Taliban overrunning the Afghan army and retaking control of the country, using it as a recruiting tool for the jihadi movement.