Over the next month ordinary Americans volunteered themselves to helping New York which suffered the most from the attacks. Hundreds of people came to the World Trade Center to help with the relief effort in hope of rescuing trapped survivors. As humanitarian aid and sympathy along with volunteers flooded New York, another task was initiated across the world.
On September 12, 2001, it was clear that the tragedy in the US was a terrorist act. Due to the magnitude of the attack it was thought that it could be state level sponsored, like Iraq maybe. The US government pointed the finger at Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda organization, but investigation were carried out on finding more clues. World leaders condemned the attacks immediately. Even the staunchest US enemies denounced the attack on civilians not wanting to risk being caught in the retaliation that was surely about to come. Only one leader did not, and that was Iraq's Sadam Hussein who said that the United States had "reaped what it had sowed" with its previous actions. Libya, Cuba, China, Sudan, and even Iran all send their support, even acknowledging that the United States had a right to attack those responsible. As clues of the hijackers relations emerged it became more and more clearer that Bin Laden was involved. It was also at this time that even more disgusting news emerged from the Middle East, where Palestinians immediately following the acts of Sep.11 were holding rallies in support for the attacks and Bin Laden, handing out sweets an cheering the loss of life in New York. Although Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat tried to censure the images emerging out, the damage was done and their cause severely damaged in the eyes of the world. Soon enough Israeli tanks would join the Palestinian celebrations.
The United States government indicated that Bin Laden was responsible and that due to security concerns it will hold on to information for now. Such information was only passed to world leaders as President G.W. Bush sought out to create a global coalition against terrorism. Since Sep. 12, America dispatched its fleet and military to take up position near Afghanistan where Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda was based. The ruling Taliban controlled 95% of Afghanistan with the rest in the hands of the opposition Norther Alliance fighting for survival. The Taliban even though in clear control of Afghanistan was only recognized by three countries: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The UAE broke off relations with the Taliban, followed by Saudi Arabia after it refused to hand over Osama Bin Laden on the grounds that he was innocent. Pakistan remained the only negotiating outlet between the Taliban and the US and it tried unconvincingly to broker a deal. The Taliban was born in religious school in Pakistan and enjoyed wide support across the border. Gen. Mushrafarer, was convinced by US proof that Bin Laden was behind the attacks, but still faced demonstrations and fear of civil war between the Army and Islamic supporters. As negotiations failed, both sides built up their forces for war. The Taliban reinforced their border and called up men to fight. It also threatened to invade any country granting the United States support for strikes on Afghanistan. Pres. Bush dispatched four aircraft carrier battle groups, along with some 100 aircraft in the Arabian Sea. It also set out to get neighboring countries into the coalition as bases for a war were needed. Pakistan, the most important US ally agreed to allow all access to the US military, including airspace for strikes and bases in Pakistan for US troops. Uzbekistan was next, followed by Tajikistan. Iran declared itself neutral but stated that US aircraft could use its airfields in case of an emergency. India also gave full access to the US. As many as 30 countries gave the US assurances of support, the most import being NATO who envoked Article 5 of its constitution. Article 5 states "an attack one country is an attack on us all." This was largely symbolic, and the US declined to ask for military aid except from one country, Great Britain. The British Prime Minister Tony Blair came out of Sep. 12 and rallied Europe and Britain on Americas side. British troops would fight shoulder to shoulder in the coming war. British ships and aircraft along with troops were stationing in the Arabian also, bringing the numbers to some 65 warships. On October 7, 2001 all time ran out on the Taliban and the war began. Pres. Bush declared that the United States will make no distinction between those who committed this act and those who give them refuge and support. The goals were simple but this was understood to be a long and tough war ahead. The American public was asked to give its support and patience as the military was bringing justice to those responsible. The United States sought to bring Bin Laden along with some 20 top Al-Qaeda leaders named to justice, wipe out the network across the world they had built, and remove the Taliban from power in Afghanistan.
As the relief effort was carried out, the number of victims dropped dramatically due to miscalculations of names. As of late December 2001 it is down to some 3,500 dead and missing and still dropping as more information comes out.
Contents:
I.Backround
II.Taliban & Al-Qaeda Forces
III.Coalition Forces
IV.Taliban & Al-Qaeda Losses
V.Coalition Losses
VI.Conclusion
VII.Important Battles
VIII.Pictures
I.Backround
II.Taliban & Al-Qaeda Forces
Al-Qaeda Commander:Osama Bin Laden
| Forces | Infantry | Tanks | APC's | Artillery | SAM's | AAA | Aircraft |
| Taliban | 45,000 | 100 | 250 | 200 | 18 | 300 | 70 |
| Al-Qaeda | 3,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Pakistani Volunteers | 9,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Chechen Fighters | 1,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Uzbek Islamic Party | 1,500 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
The Taliban claimed to have mobilized some 300,000 troops before the United States attacked but that was mostly propaganda. The 50,000 or so Taliban fighters were mostly on three fronts: 1) Kabul, the capital, squared off against the Northern Alliance 2) Mazar-e-Sharrif, supplying the northern troops in the Alliance heartland and 3) along the border with Pakistan. The most important city the Taliban held was Mazar, its airport and roads leading to Uzbekistan and denying the Alliance aid from Russia and Iran which supported them. It is here that the Uzbek Islamic Party was based and launched some attacks into Uzbekistan trying to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state. Al-Qaeda's notorious Brigade 055, some 500-600 Arab fighters that was fanatical in fighting was at the front line fighting the Alliance. Also here were the Chechens who made a name for themselves defeating Russia in 1994-96 and now has it bogged down again since 1999. The Taliban stronghold was Kandahar where it maintained its base.
The Taliban gained thousands of tanks and armored vehicles after the Russians withdrew defeated, but only a few hundred were operational. It also maintained some 200 Stinger Surface-to-Air missiles from the US but it is not known how many were still in good condition. The Taliban air defenses were not to be a problem, the 18 SAM sites could easily be knocked out. The Taliban threat lay in the guerrilla war they waged, practices and built to perfection against the Russians. It also had a great terrain advantage, thousands of caves and mountain safe heavens that were hard to gain access to. The Taliban was nearly in complete control of Afghanistan, only 5% was left to the Northern Alliance who was crumbling and about to be wiped out.
III.Coalition Forces
N. Alliance Commander: Gen. Mohammed Fahim
E. Alliance Commander: Hamid Karzai
| Forces | Infantry | Tanks | APC's | Artillery | Aircraft | Warships |
| United States | 4,000 | -- | 200 | -- | 500 | 45 |
| Great Britain | 250 | -- | -- | -- | 24 | 5 |
| N. Alliance | 15,000 | 20 | 65 | 50 | 12 | -- |
| E. Alliance | 5,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
United States -- American strategy from the beginning would consist of heavy air power use to break the Taliban while using the ground troops of the Northern Alliance to capture and hold land. At the same time American special forces were deployed inside Afghanistan to work behind enemy lines and help the Northern Alliance on the ground. Another groups of special forces were in the southern region where they assembled the Eastern Alliance to dislodge the Taliban from its heartland. Four aircraft carrier groups with some 200 aircraft opened up the assault on Afghanistan after 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles cleared the way. B-52's and B-1's stationed on Diego Garcia Island pounded the Taliban front lines including massive carpet bombing runs.
Some 300 American special forces worked together with 100 SAS British troops directing airstrikes and helping the anti-Taliban groups. In the south, 1,500 US Marines with light armor set up a base near Kandahar, while the US Army's 10th Mountain Division deployed 1,000 troops to Uzbekistan. In addition to these, 150 Royal Marines worked with some 100 German and French military advisors.
Northern Alliance -- Two days before the September 11 attacks, the Northern Alliance leader Shah Ahmad Masood was killed in a suicide bombing that is blamed on Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda group. The Alliance received military support from Iran and Russia but this did not help their failures against the superior numbers and equipment of the Taliban. Just before the United States began striking the Taliban, the Alliance controlled only about 5% land and was about to collapse.
Eastern Alliance -- Early into the war the United States realized that while the Northern Alliance would have some success against the Taliban in the north that would not be the case in the south. The reasoning was because the Alliance was made of three ethnic groups, Uzbek, Tajik, and Hazara. Southern Afghanistan was made up of Pashtuns. The Taliban did not have support here in the north and their supply lines were stretched to the limits. On top of this the American air power would make it difficult for the Taliban to move and control their troops. This same problem would face the Northern Alliance if they tried to push the Taliban and go south. American special forces advisors helped Hamid Karzai mobilize and then arms thousands of Pashtuns against the Taliban and then move on its base in Kandahar.
IV.Taliban & Al-Qaeda Losses
| Forces | Killed | Captured | Changed Sides | Taliban | 9,000 | 7,000 | 15,000 | Al-Qaeda | 1,000 | 800 | -- |
|---|
Material losses were all that the Taliban could muster. All 18 SAM sites were wiped out early in the first few days. As were all Taliban aircraft since they had no means of protecting them. Roughly 100 tanks, APC's, and artillery pieces were destroyed, while the rest were all captured by the Alliance. Thousands of arms have been collected, the most impressive being some Stinger missiles, and French anti-tank missiles left behind by the Taliban. Taliban and Al-Qaeda killed have been very hard to verify, but estimated by some analysts, partly on the basis of previous experience of the effects of carpet-bombing, to be upwards of 10,000. We know that of the 9,000 or so Pakistanis that left for Afghanistan, about 5,000 are unaccounted for and missing. Since Pakistanis are about as much loved as Russians are in Afghanistan it would be a safe guess to say they have probably met their death and will not be coming home any time soon. We do have a few incidents that have provided us with numbers that have been verified, be at by the UN, Red Cross, or Taliban actually admitting to the reports. For a detailed table on the known Taliban & Al-Qaeda losses click here.
After 3 months of heavy American bombings, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda folded, what ever was left intact and alive decided that they would fare better running away from Afghanistan or hiding in the mountains. As of November tiny pockets of hard core resistance was being wiped out. One third of the Taliban decided to switch sides and survive while fighting for the Northern Alliance. Around 7,000 prisoners were being held in Alliance jails, and these were considered some of the more fanatical Taliban, though most were expected to be released if found clean of any crimes. As for the Al-Qaeda prisoners, they were not looked upon to fondly and most met their death. Some all ready knowing what to expect took their lives, strapping grenades to themselves and becoming suicide bombers, other drowned themselves rather than be caught and killed. The remaining Al-Qaeda that were still alive were or will be turned over to the United States to face punishment and justice.
As far as Mullah Omar and Osama Bin Laden, both have disappeared and are being hunted as we speak. Bin Laden is allegedly in Pakistan now, although reports have surfaced even indicating his death. Mullah Omar is believed to be in the mountains near Kandahar and a local Afghan warlord with some 1,000 troops will be looking for him. During the early days of the war, the US made up a list of top suspect, 40 in all from the Taliban representing the top leaders, and 22 from Al-Qaeda. Around 10 Taliban commanders were either killed, caught, or switched sides, while 7 Al-Qaeda senior aides to Bin Laden were killed and 4 captured. These numbers are as of late January 2002, and the hunt is on. Another factor that must be taken into account is that some others might have died in caves and mountain hideouts, a clearing proccess is well underway for more clues.
V.Coalition Losses |
| Country | Combat Deaths | Non-Combat Deaths | Total Deaths | Wounded | Aircraft Lost | United States | 5 | 16 | 21 | 83 | 7 | Great Britain | - | - | - | 7 | - | N.Alliance | ? | 100? | 100+ | ? | 1 |
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American casualties were at a bare minimum with all but one coming from friendly fire or accidents. The first American casualty resulting from enemy fire was a CIA agent killed in the prison uprising near Mazar. Other combat deaths resulted in a bombing run where a smart bomb went off course and killed 3 nearby spotters, and one Green Beret soldier was ambushed and killed. President Bush and many other officials called on the nation to be prepared for many casualties in the coming war but that never materialized as the Taliban crumbled under intense American airpower. Of the 7 aircraft losses all to accidents, 1 was a B-1 bomber that crashed in the Indian Ocean, all 5 crew members were rescued. A C-130 crashed in Pakistan killing all 7 Marines onboard. The other 5 losses were all helicopters. Of the 82 injured Americans, 30 were injured during the Kandahar raid, and 19 were injured when a stray bomb killed 3 American spotters near Kandahar. The British surred 7 known wounded, it is not known what other casualties were sustained since the British SAS does not report any military information.
The Northern Alliance suffered a casualties in the hundreds but no set numbers are available. In the prison uprising around 50 were killed, and around 200 deaths near Mazar and Kunduz. The Eastern Alliance suffered around 50 killed near Tora Bora as well. Fighting on the ground consisted of American warplanes poundidng the Taliban and the Alliance ground forces taking ground afterwards. At one point Taliban commanders complained that this was not fare, they were being killed by deadly accurate bombings while Alliance soldiers nearby played chess and other relaxing games. The large Alliance presence forced the Taliban to muster forces on open fronts which made them sitting ducks for American airpower. They underestimated the airpower and could muster nothing to stop or hit back at the aircraft. This was unlike the Soviet war where the American Stinger missiles is credited with being a major factor in winning the war. Around 130 Soviet aircraft and some 333 Soviet helicopters were brought down in Afghanistan. Since the Soviet airpower was not a major factor, Russian troops on the ground were counted on to do the job, and they became walking coffins for deadly ambushes set up by the Afghans. Nearly 15,000 Russians died officially, though experts put the true figure at around 40,000. After 10 years the Russians withdrew defeated in 1989.
VI.Conclusion |
Key Battles:
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VIII.Pictures
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