The ‘War on Terror’.docx

The ‘War on Terror’

The war in Afghanistan, 2001

Reasons for invasion

• Afghanistan was the centre of Al-Qaeda terrorism, in 1996, Al-Qaeda had moved from the Sudan to Afghanistan, where it set up training camps

• On October 7th 2001, America and Britain launched ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ - aerial attacks on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) removed the Taliban government and put Hamid Karzai in charge.

• Mohammed Omar turned the Taliban into a guerilla army, ambushing ISAF forces with ‘attack-and-scatter-’ raids, suicide missions and roadside bombs. They Kidnapped Westerners as well.

• The ISAF tried to destroy the Taliban but they kept regrouping and carrying on.

The impact on international relations

The war:

• Had killed 4,000 ISAF and 15,000 Afghan soldiers and police, as well as 20,000 civilians, by 2016

• Had international support from the United Nations

• Caused tension in the Middle East - The USA had complaints from Afghanistan about civilian deaths

• Caused Muslim anger that increased terrorist recruitment

The Invasion of Iraq, 2003

Suspicion towards Saddam

• The West believed Saddam was building up weapons of mass destruction - chemicals, biological and nuclear weapons (WMDs)

• A few days after 9/11, President Bush tried to prove the connection between Saddam, Al-Qaeda and WMDs. A UN inspection team found no evidence of WMDs.

• Bush told the USA that Saddam would attack them with chemical and biological weapons and his ally British PM Tony Blair said the same to UK MPs

Reasons for the invasion of iraq

• Bush and Blair decided to go to war without getting UN support.

• Bush and Blair said Saddam supported Al-Qaeda and had WMDs, despite there being no evidence of either.

• They may also wanted to control Iraq’s oils or that Bush wanted to finish his father’s 1991 war

The downfall of Saddam Hussein

• The Iraq war began on March 20th 2003 with a ‘Shock and Awe’ aerial bombardment. Then American, British and Australian troops invaded, meeting little resistance.

• The Iraqis were defeated in 3 weeks. Saddam hid but was captured and eventually hanged.

• The Coalition tried to build a new democratic Iraq, but faced problems:

• Shia Muslims ran the new government, which angered the Sunni Muslim majority

• The US gave rebuilding work to American companies which angered Iraqis

• US troops were accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners

The impact of the Iraq War on international relations

• Saddam was overthrown

• There were 50,000 military and over 100,000 civilian deaths

• There was terrorism in Iraq where there had been none before

• Several countries, such as Russia, refused to support the invasion

• There were large protests against the war in many countries, including Britain

• Terrorist incidents around the world increased

• The UN’s reputation and authority suffered