War on Terror Begins with Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan
The US and a coalition of international armies set out to topple Afghanistan's leadership, The Taliban, for having permitted Al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda safe haven in Afghanistan. Operation Enduring Freedom began on October 7, 2001.
Hamid Karzai leads new Afghan government
Hamid Karzai was appointed the head of a new Afghan government in December, 2001, after working with the United States and the Afghan Northern Alliance to remove the Taliban. He was elected by the Afghan people in 2004. President Karzai's administration is challenged by the ongoing war, tribal conflict, drug trafficking, a Taliban resurgence, and difficult relations with neighboring Pakistan.