2000s war on terror

osama bin laden

founder of the militant organization al-qaeda, mastermind behind the September 11 attacks in 2001

operation enduring freedom

u.s. military campaign launched in response to 9/11, aimed at dismantling al-qaeda and removing the taliban from power in afghanistan, 10/7/2001

battle of tora bora

a military engagement in late 2001 during operation enduring freedom aimed at capturing bin Laden and al-qaeda fighters in afghanistan.

taliban

an islamic fundamentalist group that ruled afghanistan from 1996 until 2001 and was known for its strict interpretation of sharia law.

al qaeda

a militant Islamist organization founded by osama bin laden in the late 1980s

hamid karzai

the first president of afghanistan after the fall of the taliban in 2001, serving from 2004 to 2014, very corrupt

axis of evil speech

a term used by pres george w. bush in 2002 to describe governments that he accused of helping terrorism and seeking weapons of mass destruction, specifically iran, iraq, and north korea.

dick cheney

the vice president of US under george w. bush from 2001 to 2009, known for his influential role in shaping US foreign and domestic policy during the war on terror

donald rumsfeld

the US secretary of defense from 2001 to 2006, overseeing military operations in afghanistan and iraq during the war on terror.

colin powell

the US secretary of state from 2001 to 2005, he played a key role in building international support for the iraq war and addressing the united nations regarding weapons of mass destruction.

operation iraqi freedom

A military campaign launched by the US in 2003 to remove saddam hussein from power and establish a democratic government in iraq

USA patriot act

law enacted in response to the 9/11 attacks, aimed at enhancing domestic security and broadening the government's surveillance capabilities

guantanamo bay

a US military prison located in cuba, used to detain terrorism suspects without trial

abu ghraib

a prison in iraq where US military personnel were implicated in the abuse of detainees during the iraq war

Wiki Leaks

an organization that publishes classified information from anonymous sources, notably exposing US military and diplomatic activities (julian assange)

edward snowden

a former national security agency contractor who leaked classified information about global surveillance programs conducted by the NSA, sparking a major debate over privacy and security