The War on Terror

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were a stark reminder of how vulnerable the world is to terrorist acts. The Global War on Terror is an ongoing campaign by the United States and its allies to prevent international terrorism.

Osama bin Laden

America’s most notable foe in the war on terror has been Al Qaeda, a violent organization that seeks to end Western influence in Muslim countries. Al Qaeda’s terrorist operations were mainly funded by Osama bin Laden, a member of a wealthy construction family. The American State Department offered a $25 million reward for bin Laden before he was killed by American forces in Pakistan in 2011.

The Taliban

The Taliban controlled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. The Taliban continued allowing Bin Laden to live in Afghanistan after he was accused of funding the September 11, 2001 attacks. The United States, aided by Great Britain and other allies, attacked Afghanistan a month after September 11 and removed the Taliban from power. The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021 and now serve as the nation’s de facto ruling authority.

The Iran–Iraq War

Saddam Hussein led Iraq from 1979 until his removal from power in 2003. In 1980, Saddam began a bloody war with Iran, hoping to seize control of oil-rich land. Iran and Iraq fought for nine years, and as many as one million people died, but the war ended without either side able to claim victory.

From Gulf War

The war with Iran left Iraq with huge debts. Saddam needed funds to maintain his army, which he used to control the Iraqi people. In 1990, he decided to invade the tiny oil-rich nation of Kuwait. A multinational military force led by the United States responded to the invasion and liberated Kuwait in January 1991.

The 2003 Iraq Invasion and Aftermath

As part of the peace settlement after what became known as the Gulf War, Saddam agreed to allow inspectors to ensure he was not building weapons of mass destruction. Saddam was already responsible for the deaths of millions in the Iran-Iraq war, and if he had access to nuclear weapons, the results might have been disastrous for the entire world. In a speech to the American people in 2002, President George W. Bush stated that his goal was “to prevent regimes that sponsor terror from threatening America or our friends and allies with weapons of mass destruction.” When Saddam failed to fully cooperate with United Nations weapons inspections in early 2003, the United States Congress gave President Bush the authority to invade.

The United States and its allies forced Saddam from power in 2003. The dictator was later captured and put on trial by the newly elected government of Iraq for “crimes against humanity.” He was found guilty and executed in 2006. Weapons inspectors later determined that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Drawdown

The United States began to draw down forces in Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 2010s. In 2013, President Barack Obama said, “Our systematic effort to dismantle terrorist organizations must continue, but this war, like all wars, must end. That’s what history advises

It’s what our democracy demands.” In February 2020, the United States agreed to withdraw all its forces from Afghanistan in return for the Taliban’s counter-terrorism commitments. The United States’ complete withdrawal in the summer of 2021 was controversial. The Taliban almost immediately toppled Afghanistan’s American-backed elected government.