September , 2001
A Response to 911
In the immediate aftermath of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the United States demanded that Afghanistan turn over Osama Bin Laden who the US held responsible for the attacks and expel Al Qaeda from the country. The Taliban government of Afghanistan refused the US request and the US planned the overthrow of the Taliban government. When President Bush asked for plans he was initially presented with a plan to send 60,000 troops after a six month preparation. Bush rejected that plan and demanded more immediate action. Instead a plan was put in place to send CIA personnel and Green Berets to combine with forces of the Northern Alliance who was fighting the Taliban. The American forces were able to coordinate with American air assets and thus give the Northern Alliance an advantage. They quickly captured a number of towns from the Taliban.