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1979: Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
Context: 1979, was the start of the Soviet invasion. Afghanistan was already torn apart by civil upheaval and political instability. The communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) faced issues from Islamic rebels, so the Soviet Union intervened to defend them. Middle East: Afghan fighters (mujahideen) received support from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the U.S. U.S.: We supplied weapons to the mujahideen through "Operation Cyclone" to counter Soviet influence. -
1988: Formation of Al-Qaeda
Context: Iraq invaded Kuwait; Iraqi forces were driven out by a coalition led by the United States.
Middle East: Bin Laden was enraged by American troops stationed in Saudi Arabia.
U.S.: Secured Kuwait but provoked radical Islamist retaliation.
Effect: One of the main reasons for Bin Laden's crusade was the American presence in sacred places. -
1990-1991: Gulf War
Context: Iraq invaded Kuwait; Iraqi forces were driven out by a coalition led by the United States.
Middle East: Bin Laden was enraged by American troops stationed in Saudi Arabia.
U.S.: Secured Kuwait but provoked radical Islamist retaliation.
Effect: One of the main reasons for Bin Laden's crusade was the American presence in sacred places. -
1993: World Trade Center Bombing
Context: Terrorists with ties to Al-Qaeda exploded a device in the North Tower parking garage.
Middle East: Several conspirators were associated with terrorist organizations in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
U.S.: The bombing marked a dramatic increase in terrorist strikes on American soil, leaving six people dead and over a thousand injured.
Effect: emphasized the growing danger posed by international terrorism. -
1996: Bin Laden Declares War on the U.S.
Context: Bin Laden advocated for strikes against American military personnel and citizens everywhere in a fatwa.
Middle East: With the help of the Taliban, bin Laden was able to operate freely out of Afghanistan.
US: Added bin Laden to its list of terrorists to be watched.
Effect: Al-Qaeda's focus on the United States as its main adversary was solidified with this announcement. -
1998: U.S. Embassy Bombings in Africa
Context: Over 200 individuals were killed when Al-Qaeda bombed US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
Middle East: Al-Qaeda's Afghan stronghold served as the coordination hub for the attacks.
U.S.: Retaliated by hitting training centers in Afghanistan and Sudan with missiles.
Effect: Enhanced Al-Qaeda's determination and encouraged more schemes in the future. -
1999: Taliban Grants Bin Laden Sanctuary
Context: The Taliban declined to remove bin Laden in spite of international pressure.
Middle East: This improved the connection between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
U.S.: The United States of America imposed sanctions on Afghanistan but found it difficult to move farther.
Effect: Provided Al-Qaeda with a safe haven to organize 9/11. -
2000: USS Cole Bombing
Context: In Yemen, Al-Qaeda struck the USS Cole, killing seventeen sailors.
Middle East: Although Yemeni authorities managed to demolish Al-Qaeda's network, they were able to arrest a number of people.
U.S.: The strike exposed weaknesses in counterterrorism efforts and startled the U.S. military.
Effect: Showed that Al-Qaeda was capable of directly attacking American forces. -
January 5 2001: Al-Qaeda Summit in Malaysia
Context: To finalize plans for 9/11, Al-Qaeda operatives convened in Malaysia.
Middle East: A large number of participants were from Pakistani and Afghani cells.
U.S.: The CIA kept an eye on the gathering but was unable to stop the assaults.
Effect: Made the 9/11 conspiracy more solid. -
August 6 2001: Presidential Daily Brief (PDB)
Background: President Bush received a warning from US intelligence that "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S."
Middle East: There were already Al-Qaeda agents in the United States.
U.S.: The country is vulnerable because the warning was not heeded.
Impact: Draw attention to squandered chances to halt the assaults. -
September 11, 2001: The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks
Context:
Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked 4 planes, crashing 2 into the Twin Towers, 1 into the Pentagon, and another in Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3,000 people.
Middle East:
The attacks were led by Osama bin Laden. This led to a U.S. led invasion after the regime refused to surrender him.
U.S.:
The U.S. government passed the USA PATRIOT Act, restructured the TSA, and created the (DHS).
Effect:
The War on Terror destabilized parts of the Middle East, which led to the rise of ISIS. -
September 12, 2001: NATO Invokes Article 5
Context: NATO said for the first time that an attack on one member state constituted an attack on all of them.
Middle East: Support for the US invasion of Afghanistan was extended by NATO members.
United States: Gathered armed forces with support from several other countries.
Impact: Signaled the start of concerted international counterterrorism operations. -
October 7, 2001: U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan
Context: In order to destroy Al-Qaeda and drive out the Taliban, the United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom. Middle East: Pakistan is where the Taliban fighters regroup after retreating. US: Overcame the Taliban regime swiftly, but they had to deal with a protracted insurgency. Effect: Launched the longest-running US war, with varying degrees of success in stopping terrorism. -
March 1 2003: Creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Context: Under DHS, the US reformed its internal security agencies.
Middle East: Enhanced security cooperation with allies in the region.
U.S.: Tightened procedures for intelligence sharing & airport security.
Effect: Enhanced American counterterrorism initiatives, however privacy issues were brought up. -
March 20 2003: Iraq War Begins
Context: Citing WMDs and ties to terrorism, the United States invaded Iraq.
Middle East: The conflict caused power vacuums and destabilized Iraq.
U.S.: Had to deal with growing casualties and public resistance.
Effect: Helped the defunct Iraqi forces give rise to ISIS. -
2004: Madrid Train Bombings
Context: 193 people were killed when terrorists with ties to Al-Qaeda detonated trains in Madrid. Middle East: The assaults were a component of larger radical initiatives connected to the Iraq War. United States: Enhanced intelligence cooperation with allies in Europe. Effect: Illustrated how terrorism extends beyond the Middle East to a global scale. -
2005: London Transit Bombings
Context: 52 individuals were killed when suicide bombers struck a bus and the London Underground. Middle East: Amid the continuous wars in Iraq, attackers were motivated by the ideology of Al-Qaeda. U.S.: Collaborated on intelligence and counterterrorism projects with the U.K. Impact: Signaled the emergence of domestic terrorism in Western countries. -
2010: Times Square Bomb Attempt
Context: Extremists from Pakistan were connected to a failed car bomb in Times Square. Middle East: The Taliban in Pakistan claimed credit, exposing the changing tactics of international terrorism. U.S.: Increased public awareness and tighter security. Effect: Draw attention to the danger of radicalization outside of the Middle East. -
2011: Arab Spring Uprisings
Context: Middle Eastern protests brought down regimes but also causing instability in the area. Middle East: Extremist organizations such as ISIS have grown due to power vacuums. U.S.: Fought with the effects of instability yet supported regime change. Effect: Made room for fresh threats from terrorism. -
May 2 2011: Death of Osama bin Laden
Context: In Pakistan, U.S. Navy SEALs murdered bin Laden. Middle East: Although Al-Qaeda dispersed, its local affiliates continued to operate. U.S: Declared a symbolic win in the War on Terror. Effect: Changed attention to other terrorist organizations, such as ISIS. -
2014: Rise of ISIS
Context: After taking control of a sizable portion of Syria and Iraq, ISIS proclaimed a caliphate. Middle East: The group's growth was driven by unrest in the area U.S.: We spearheaded a coalition to use airstrikes and ground assistance against ISIS. Effect: ISIS has become the main threat in the world, replacing Al-Qaeda. -
2015: Paris Terror Attacks
Context: 130 people were killed in coordinated strikes carried out by ISIS members in Paris. Middle East: ISIS networks operating out of Syria were connected to the attackers. U.S.: Enhanced cooperation on counterterrorism measures with allies in Europe. Effect: Showcased ISIS's capacity to plan extensive international assaults. -
2016: Brussels Bombings
Context: 32 people were slain when terrorists with ISIS-inspired weapons attacked a metro station and Brussels Airport. Middle East: The assailants were connected to ISIS cells in Iraq and Syria. U.S: Increased counterterrorism collaboration with European countries. Impact: Highlighted the continued existence of global terrorism in spite of ISIS's defeats. -
2019: Death of ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Context: During an operation in Syria, al-Baghdadi was slain by US soldiers. Middle East: Although ISIS was debilitated, its affiliates persisted in their worldwide activities. U.S.: We hailed the raid as a significant achievement in counterterrorism. Effect: Although there was less of an impact from ISIS, regional instability continued. -
2020: U.S.-Taliban Peace Agreement
Context: In exchange for the Taliban consenting to troop withdrawal, the United States signed a peace treaty with them. Middle East: While still maintaining power in Afghanistan, the Taliban pledged to stop terrorism. U.S.: In accordance with the agreement, we started pulling out soldiers. Effect: The outcome was to create the conditions for the Taliban's comeback. -
2021: U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Context: After 20 years of military service, the United States left Afghanistan. Middle East: With the Taliban seizing authority pretty quickly, there were worries about a possible revival of terrorism. U.S.: The disorganized pullout and its effects drew criticism. Effect: A growing concern that Afghanistan may once again serve as a refuge for terrorists.