War On Terror Flashcards
What happened on 9/11/2001?
The world trade centre, a symbol of America’s power and influence, was destroyed by two planes hijacked by Al Qaeda. A third plane was crashed into the pentagon, and a fourth, believed to be heading for the White House, crashed in a field in Pennsylvania due to the heroic actions of the passengers on board.
Over 3000 people were killed, and triggered major US initiatives to combat terrorism.
What did Osama Bin Laden want?
Destroy American influence in all Muslim countries
Destroy Israel
Overthrow pro-western governments in Muslim states
What were some reasons for 9/11?
Many new Islamic fundamentalist groups have arisen after the soviet war in Afghanistan. Many of these groups are Jihadists and have declared a holy war against non-Muslim states.
Hatred of America after the 1971 gulf war.
USA kept troops stationed in Saudi Arabia. This is the home of the holiest sites in Islam (Mecca).
May be designed to provoke the USA into attacking the Muslim world, helping them to radicalise Muslims into joining the Jihadist movement.
What is a Fatwā?
When did Osama Bin Laden sign one?
Provides religious authorisation for the killing of people, in this case Americans everywhere.
1998
What was Al Qaeda doing before 9/11?
In 1993, Al-Qaeda tried to bomb the world trade centre in New York.
In 1996 they tried to assassinate president Bill Clinton.
1998 they used suicide bombers to drive trucks into US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.
In 2000 they tried to attack a US destroyer.
When was Osama Bin Laden’s ‘letter to America’?
What did it state?
2002.
Stated Al Qaeda’s motives for the attack:
Western Support for attacking Muslims in Somalia.
Jewish “aggression” against Muslims in Lebanon.
The presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia.
US support of Israel.
Sanctions against Iraq.
What was the War on Terror?
Used by George W. Bush to explain the military, political, legal and ideological struggle against organisations which had been labelled as terrorists.
Also refers to the actions of the USA and its allies against governments that provided these organisations with support or those which posed a threat to the USA and its allies.
What were the aims of the war on terror?
Defeat those who had been associated with terrorist attacks, such as Osama bin Laden.
Identify, locate and destroy terrorists along with their organisations, such as Al-Qaeda.
Undertake ‘regime change’ in certain countries that support terrorism.
Stop those who gave sponsorship, support and sanctuary to terrorists.
To defend the citizens of the USA and its allies at home and abroad.
What was operation enduring freedom?
Official name used by the bush administration for the war in Afghanistan.
Congress passed legalisation authorising the use of force in striking against terrorist targets.
What were the aims of operation enduring freedom?
To find Osama Bin Laden
Remove the Taliban from power
Prevent the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist haven
What were the reasons for the invasion of Afghanistan, 2001?
The Taliban were accused of protecting Osama Bin Laden.
There was a lot of international pressure on the Afghan leaders to hand over Bin Laden
They refused to hand over Bin Laden, so the US used their armed forces
The Taliban requests for negotiation were rejected in favour of military action
What happened during the US invasion of Afghanistan?
On 7 October 2001, special force troops were sent in and by mid November the Afghan capital of Kabul fell. By mid December, air attacks and ground forces toppled the Taliban regime. Osama bin Laden was believed to have escaped to Pakistan.
The war continued, as US coalition forces attempted to defeat a Taliban revolt based in Neighbouring Pakistan.
What were the consequences of 9/11 and the Afghan war?
International relations changed to fight against a new ‘unseen’ enemy.
Countries around the world gave their support to the USA, and formed a United front to fight against this new type of enemy, and hunt for Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda. He would later be killed under orders from president Obama in 2016.
The Afghan war would become the longest war in US history.
Due to the actions of the ISAF and death of civilians, it actually resulted in more Muslims joining extremist Islamic terrorist groups.
The United Nations authorised the use of the ISAF, but many Middle Eastern countries did not support the actions of this international force.
The Taliban was never truly destroyed and regrouped in Pakistan, and went back to Afghanistan to wage war against the Afghan government that was supported by the west.
Why was Iraq invaded in 2003?
Without an occupying army in Iraq, the UN was unable to made Saddam Hussien obey their resolutions. He got round economic sanctions, obstructed UN inspectors, avoided the terms of the resolutions and threw out the inspectors all together.
In response, president Clinton fired 450 missiles into Iraq. This was known as Operation Desert fox.
What occurred during the Iraq invasion?
In September 2002 president Bush and prime minister Tony Blair told the public that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and got support from congress and uk parliament to go to war with Iraq.
On 17 march 2003 president bush declared an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein, giving him 48 hours to leave Iraq.
Other countries objected to this build up of war, but the US eventually went to war with Iraq without UN approval.
Over 160,000 troops entered Iraq on the 20th march 2003. They were able to topple Hussein’s regime in just 3 weeks, sustaining few casualties.
