War in Afghanistan -- the History behind the U.S. War in Afghanistan

From Amy Zalman, Ph.D., former About.com Guide

The attacks of September 11, 2001 surprised many Americans; the decision a month later to wage a war in Afghanistan, to end the ability of the government to offer safe haven to Al Qaeda, may have seemed equally surprising. Follow the links on this page for an explanation of how war began in—but not against—Afghanistan in 2001, and who the actors are now.

Previous

• War on Terror Begins in Afghanistan
• 1979: Soviet Forces Enter Afghanistan
• 1979-1989: Afghan Mujahideen Battle the Soviets
• 1980s: Osama bin Laden Recruits Arabs for Jihad in Afghanistan
• 1996: Taliban Take Over Kabul, and End Mujahideen Rule
• 2001: U.S. Airstrikes Topple Taliban Government, But Not Taliban Insurgency

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