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At approximately 16:30 GMT (12:30 EDT, 17:00 local time) on Sunday October 7, 2001, US and British forces struck at the Taliban forces and those of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network in Afghanistan. The US government justifies these attacks as a response to the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack. The Taliban condemns these attacks. |
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At approximately 16:30 GMT (12:30 EDT, 17:00 local time) on Sunday October 7, 2001, US and British forces struck at the Taliban forces and those of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network in Afghanistan. The US government justifies these attacks as a response to the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack. The Taliban condemns these attacks and call them an 'attack on Islam.' |
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A pre-recorded video tape of Osama bin Laden had been released before the attack in which he condemned any attacks against Afghanistan. Al-Jazeera, the Arabic satellite news channel, claim that these tapes have been recently received. In this recording bin Laden claims the United States will collapse after it fails in Afghanistan, just as the Soviet Union did, and calls for a war of Muslims against the entire Western world. |
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A pre-recorded video tape of Osama bin Laden had been released before the attack in which he condemned any attacks against Afghanistan. Al-Jazeera, the Arabic satellite news channel, claim that these tapes have been recently received. In this recording bin Laden claims the United States will collapse after it fails in Afghanistan, just as the Soviet Union did, and calls for a war of Muslims, a 'Jihad', against the entire non-Muslim world. |
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In addition to the United Kingdom other countries have pledged support, including Canada, France and Germany. Canada said that it would contribute 2,000 troops, mostly commandos, six ships and six aircraft. Japan, in it's first military deployment since World War II, also contributed naval support for non-military reinforcement of the operation. By December, reports indicate Australian, British, French, German and Russian special forces are on the ground in Afghanistan. |
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In addition to the United Kingdom other countries have pledged support, including Canada, France and Germany. Canada said that it would contribute 2,000 troops, mostly commandos, six ships and six aircraft. Japan, in it's first military deployment since World War II, also contributed naval support for non-combat reinforcement of the operation. By December, reports indicate Australian, British, French, German and Russian special forces are on the ground in Afghanistan. |
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The campaign is viewed on all fronts as an American initiative. All the American news media call it "America Attacks" or some such; the U.S. government has stated repeatedly that it will do these attacks unilaterally if necessary; the BBC calls this a "confrontation between Afghanistan and the U.S."; the majority of the forces are American; the entire campaign is unequivocally led by the U.S.; the U.S. informed NATO of the attack but did not seek its assent. |
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The campaign is viewed on all fronts as an American initiative. The American news media labeled the attacks as "America Attacks", "American Strikes Back" or some such; the U.S. government has stated repeatedly that it will do these attacks unilaterally if necessary; the BBC calls this a "confrontation between Afghanistan and the U.S."; the majority of the forces are American; the entire campaign is unequivocally led by the U.S.; the U.S. informed NATO of the attack but did not seek its consent. |
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On October 9, in a news conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, a United Nations spokeswoman reported that a cruise missile had killed four U.N. employees and injured four others in a building several miles east of Kabul. The casualties were Afghans employed as security guards by the Afghan Technical Consultancy, the U.N. demining agency (Afghanistan is the most heavily mined country on the planet). The Taliban reported about 8 to 20 civilian casualties, unconfirmed by independent sources. |
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On October 9, in a news conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, a United Nations spokeswoman reported that a cruise missile had killed four U.N. employees and injured four others in a building several miles east of Kabul. The casualties were Afghans employed as security guards by the Afghan Technical Consultancy, the U.N. demining agency (Afghanistan is the most heavily mined country on the planet). The Taliban reported about 8 to 20 civilian casualties, unconfirmed by independent sources. |
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In Pakistan, the United Nations and non-governmental humanitarian organizations have begun gearing up for the massive [humanitarian effort]? necessary in addition to the already major refugee and food efforts. The United Nations World Food Program temporarily suspensed activities within Afghanistan at the beginning of the bombing attacks. The efforts have, as of early December 2001, resumed with a daily distrubution rate of 3,000 tons a day. It is however estimated that 30,000 tons of food will be needed by Junuary 2002 to provided sufficient relief to the impoverished masses. |
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In Pakistan, the United Nations and private humanitarian organizations have begun gearing up for the massive [humanitarian effort]? necessary in addition to the already major refugee and food efforts. The United Nations World Food Program temporarily suspensed activities within Afghanistan at the beginning of the bombing attacks. The efforts have, as of early December 2001, resumed with a daily distrubution rate of 3,000 tons a day. It is however estimated that 30,000 tons of food will be needed by Junuary 2002 to provided sufficient relief to the impoverished masses. |
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