The US Attack on Terrorism

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September 11, 2001 will always be remembered as one of the darkest days in American history. Several members of the terrorist group al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger airliners and flew them into buildings killing a total of 2,996 people and injuring over 6,000 other people. On October 7, 2001, the United States began attacks on parts of Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban. These attacks and invasions were intended to target Osama bin Laden who was the leader of al-Qaeda. The United States demanded that the Taliban hand over Osama bin Laden. When the Taliban did not turn bin Laden over, the United States began bombing various places in Afghanistan which were controlled by the Taliban and the invasion followed, and the war in Afghanistan began.

Osama bin Laden, leader of al-Qaeda and the man who planned the attacks of September 11, 2001 was living in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban who are a group of Afghan freedom fighters. “In the weeks prior to the invasion, both the United States and the U.N. Security Council had demanded that the Taliban turn over Osama bin Laden for prosecution. (U.S. Led Attack on Afghanistan Begins).” In his speech on September 20, 2001 to the United States Congress, President Bush made the following demands:

“And tonight, the United States of America makes the following demands on the Taliban: Deliver to United States authorities all the leaders of al Qaeda who hide in your land. Release all foreign nationals, including American citizens, you have unjustly imprisoned. Protect foreign journalists, diplomats, and aid workers in your country. Close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan, and hand over every terrorist, and every person in the...

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Griffin, David R. "Did 9/11 Justify the War in Afghanistan?" Global Research. N.p., 25 June 2010. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. .

Hanson, Victor D. "Why Did We Invade Iraq? | National Review Online.". N.p., 26 Mar. 2013. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. .

Jehl, Douglas, and David Johnston. "In Video Message, Bin Laden Issues Warning to U.S. The New York Times, 30 Oct. 2004. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. .

"U.S. Led Attack on Afghanistan Begins." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. .

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