9/11 and the Invasion of Afghanistan

Update on North Korea http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=57315#.WYaueoiGPD4

UNSC has just passed (5th August) unanimously resolution adding sanctions to those already imposed
on North Korea over its continued missile testing and refusal to return to negotiations (last held
2009).

Have a look at the following map of Korean peninsula. It seems evident that China tolerates NK as if
Korea reunites then the US (strong ally of South Korea) will be right on Chinas border- so NK is like a
buffer zone.

September 11 2001 The attacks on the United States

Watch doco: highlight what was attacked on 9/11https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjXgbpkKnKo

This is a 30 min doco that is a compilation of live footage as the attacks happened. Understand what
was the focus of the attacks:

The World Trade Center Towers symbols of USAs economic power

The Pentagon USA military HQ symbol of USAs military power
4th plane believed to target White House symbol USA political power

Groups involved:
 The Taliban who controlled Afghanistan from 1996 2001
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIA9CxAQq_8
Al Qaeda led by Osama Bin Laden global terrorist group
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYF_IuqNZVA

Some background context:

The Talibans ambitions were local: they only sought to control Afghanistan and later Pakistan as
well. Their leader at the time, Mullah Omar, didnt particularly like Bin Laden, but tolerated Bin
Laden and Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda however had much grander ambitions of establishing a caliphate
across the entire middle east. They established training camps in Afghanistan; between 1996 and
2001 an estimated 15,000 Islamists went through the Al Qaeda training camps and many returned to
their home countries to carry out terrorist attacks; e.g two of the Bali bombers from 2002 had gone
through the camps in Afghanistan. After the 9/11 attacks the United States led an invasion of
Afghanistan to remove the Taliban; break up the Al Qaeda training camps and capture or kill Bin
Laden and other leaders.

The response part 1 - UNSC resolutions

The invasion by US led troops had the full support of the 5 permanent members of the Security
Council UNSC Resolution. Initially the resolutions condemn the attacks in the strongest terms;
reaffirm the right to self defence; and then turn to the invading force to oust the Taliban and
capture/kill Al Qaeda

http://www.un.org/Docs/scres/2001/sc2001.htm Is the list of UNSC Resolutions for 2001 - We will

look at resolution 1368 from Sept 12th; then 1373; 1378; and 1383;

The response part 2 - the invasion of Afghanistan:

Watch the first 22 mins of documentary: The Day the west invaded Afghanistan (Afghanistan War -
Military Documentary Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfkXxXiOBlw&t=1568s ) and
answer the following questions on this invasion of Afghanistan:

(Watch first 22 mins and answer the questions)

1.When did the Taliban rule Afghanistan?

2. What was life like under the Taliban for women?

3. What was unique about their leader Mullah Omar?

4. What was Al Qaeda doing in Afghanistan?

5. After the 9/11 attacks why wouldnt Mullah Omar hand over Bin Laden to the US?

6. Who was the Northern Alliance?

7. On the 13/11/2001 the Northern Alliance with support from US bombers captured the capital city
of _____________ .

8.What promise was made to the Taliban by Hamid Karzai I they surrendered?

9. Did the US support this promise Karzai made?

10. Where did Mullah Omar and Osama Bin Laden escape to?

11. What is the criticism made of the focus of the US as the Taliban were defeated?

12. What was happening in Afghanistan by March 2003?

The Bush White House and influence of the Neoconservatives (neocons)

Neoconservatives typically advocate the promotion of democracy and American national

interest in international affairs, including by means of military force.

Neoconservatives peaked in influence during the administration of George W. Bush, when they played a
major role in promoting and planning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[1] Prominent neoconservatives in the
George W. Bush administration included Paul Wolfowitz, Elliott Abrams, Richard Perle and Paul Bremer.
Senior officials Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, while not
identifying as neoconservatives, listened closely to neoconservative advisers regarding foreign policy,
especially the defense of Israel and the promotion of American influence in the Middle East.

Bush's policies changed dramatically immediately after the 11 September 2001 attacks.
During Bush's State of the Union speech of January 2002, he named Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as states
that "constitute an axis of evil" and "pose a grave and growing danger". Bush suggested the possibility
of preemptive war: "I will not wait on events, while dangers gather. I will not stand by, as peril draws
closer and closer. The United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to
threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons."[64][65]
Bush Doctrine[edit]

President Bush meets with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and his staff at the Pentagon, 14 August 2006.

The Bush Doctrine of preemptive war was stated explicitly in the National Security Council text "National
Security Strategy of the United States," published 20 September 2002: "We must deter and defend
against the threat before it is unleashed ... even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the
enemy's attack. ... The United States will, if necessary, act preemptively."[67]

Answer these questions based on the above information.

1. The neo-cons advocated the promotion of what?

2. (first sentence) How did the neo-cons believe the US should use its military supremacy?

3. Vice President Cheney and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld listened closely to the neo-cons
especially in relation to what aspects of US foreign policy?

4. The Bush Doctrine: What was it and when was it announced?

5. What problems did the Bush Doctrine of pre-emptive war pose for the whole system of
international relations; built on mutual respect for state sovereignty?