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Revision as of 16:46, 21 August 2002

Immediately following the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack, the United States government announced its intentions to begin the "War on Terrorism" (or "War on Terror"), a protracted war against terrorists and states which aid terrorists in response to the attack.

Despite some voices speaking out against the US-led anti-terror campaign, many governments have pledged their support for the international initiative. Detractors argue that the campaign is being used by the US as an excuse for agressive military action against those states which do not support the US.

The US has received military help from the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Japan, Pakistan, among others.

International/Military

U.S. invasion of Afghanistan The first target was the Al-Qaida terrorist organisation based in Afghanistan. The US demanded that Taliban government turn over their leader Osama bin Laden with no preconditions. When the Taliban failed to comply, the United States and other allied nations provided anti-Taliban forces with sufficient military and operational backing to remove the Taliban from power.

Elements of the campaign follow from previous American policy, including the campaigns against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq beginning with the George Bush administration and the Bill Clinton administration efforts against Osama bin Laden.

Following the attack on the Taliban, the Bush Administration began deploying troops to various countries with an Islamic militant presence, to train and equip local forces.

War on Terrorism/Pankisi Gorge In late February 2002 the U.S. began its campaign to help the former Soviet republic of Georgia combat Islamic guerrilla fighters in the Pankisi Gorge region, supplying training and equipment.

War on Terrorism/Yemen The Bush Administration approved sending about 100 Special Operations forces to Yemen, a power base for al Qaeda.

War on Terrorism/Philippines About 600 troops, including 160 Special Operations forces, are training forces in the Philippines to combat Abu Sayyaf on Basilan.

War on Terrorism/Indonesia Near the end of 2001, Congress relaxed restrictions put into place in 1999 against the U.S. training of Indonesian forces because of human rights abuses in East Timor.

United States invasion of Iraq During 2002 the Bush administration began making plans for an invasion of Iraq citing fears and perhaps intelligence that Iraq was close to success in its efforts to deploy weapons of mass destruction such as biological weapons, chemical weapons or nuclear weapons.

U.S. Domestic

Investigations are going on through many branches of many governments, pursuing tens of thousands of tips. Hundreds of people have being detained, arrested, and/or questioned so far. The Justice Department wishes to interview 5000 young men from the Middle East. See September_11,_2001_Terrorist_Attack/Detentions.

Legislation

$40 billion emergency bill was quickly been passed. A ~$20 billion bill to bail out the airline industry also passed. Laws are also being passed that would trim civil liberties in the United States, to make it easier for the government to spy on what's happening within the country. USA PATRIOT Act passed.

Executive Branch

Office of Homeland Security

Office of Strategic Influence

Continuity of Operations Plan

See also: Current events, list of terrorist incidents

External Links and References