This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ed Poor (talk | contribs) at 12:20, 30 May 2002 (softening my anti-advocate rhetoric (lest I fall into advocacy myself)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 12:20, 30 May 2002 by Ed Poor (talk | contribs) (softening my anti-advocate rhetoric (lest I fall into advocacy myself))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Immediately following the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack, the United States government announced its intentions to engage in a protracted war against terrorists and states which aid terrorists in response to the attack.
The US anti-terror campaign is opposed by many advocates, who have cast US motives, often implying that the campaign masks a more general and open-ended war of aggression against countries which are not demonstrably pro-American. From this point of view, the military campaign against the Taliban constitutes an "attack on Afghanistan".
International/Military
The first target was the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The US demanded that the Taliban turn over Osama bin Laden (prime suspect) with no preconditions, and after the Taliban failed to surrender bin Laden, the U.S. invaded Afganistan and removed 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 assisting 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.
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
See also: Current events