On September 11, 2001, al‑Qaeda terrorists commandeered four airliners and crashed two of them into the World Trade Center towers. In shock and grief, the United States embarked on a global “War on Terror.” The task: dismantle terrorist networks and deny them safe haven, starting with al‑Qaeda in Afghanistan.
Invasion of Afghanistan (2001): The U.S./NATO troops ousted the Taliban for sheltering al‑Qaeda. Special Forces worked with Afghan militia; the Taliban camps were bombed using B‑52s and drones.
Iraq War (2003): Believing Saddam Hussein had WMDs and terrorist contacts, America launched the second front. The swift "shock and awe" attack overthrew Saddam but produced years of insurgency.
Global reach: But beyond the Middle East, counterterrorism spread to Africa, Southeast Asia, and cyberspace—special operations, drone strikes, and information sharing became routine practice.
No clear "end": The Taliban lost power in 2001 but returned to power again in 2021. Iraq plunged into sectarian civil war, which was followed by the rise and fall of ISIS
Mixed results:": Prevented large-scale al-Qaeda plots in America but terrorism metamorphized—the lone-wolf attacks, domestic terror cells, and new factions such as ISIS.
Legacy: Billions of dollars spent, thousands of lives lost, and ongoing arguments over civil liberties, nation-building, and America's global role.