A timeline of the history leading up to the current crisis in the Afghanistan conflict.

1. Afghanistan declares independence
after the third, and final, Anglo-Afghan
War, of which the Afghans had lost the
first two. A democracy is formed and
with it; new potential
Tensions cease due to negotiations organized
by the UN, resulting in the SU withdrawing from
Afghanistan. However, this leaves behind a
power vacuum; ripe for terrorist organizations
to gain a foothold
A New Aghanistan
August 9, 1919
The Afghanistan military performs a ceremony on their independence day
February 28, 1921
Friendships Formed
The Soviet Union recognizes the new
government and signs a Treaty of
Friendship and greater cooperation
between the two states follows
Leadership of the Soviet Union and the Afghanistan Republic meet
late' December, 1979
The Soviets Invade
Soviet troops invade after Islamic
separatists threaten the Afghan
communist establishment
beginning' of 1980
Soviet T-76 overlooking contested ridge in Northern Afghanistan
The US provides arms, funding, and intel to
local insurgencies. Adjusted for inflation, over
the following decade the CIA would provide
billions to insurgencies to contest the region
with their Cold War adversary
Classified Terror
Declassified image of US troops negotiating an arms deal
February 15, 1989
The Red Vacuum
September 27, 1996
Soviet armoured division leaving Afghanistan
The Taliban seizes Kabul, the capital of
Afghanistan, and installs an Islamic
government, which enforces strict clothing and
behavioural laws
The Seizure of Kabul
Taliban soldier guards one of Kabul's districts

2. The Taliban, and its off-shoot: Al-Qaeda, are
declared by the UN to be terrorist
organizations at the request of the US. With
this new classification, the US begins a
campaign of surgical military strikes aimed at
crippling the Afghanistan leadership
Ahmad Shah Massoud, the leader of the
Northern Alliance, is assassinated by the
Taliban. The Northern Alliance was the largest
anti-Taliban organization in Afghanistan, and
with its leader's death, it quickly crumbles;
giving free reign to the Taliban
Thousands are killed in the 9/11 attacks. Two
airliners strike each of the subsequent WTC
towers in NYC, one flew into the Pentagon,
and another fell short of the White House and
instead crashed into a Pennsylvanian wheat
field after the passengers fight back
The Bush administration signs into law a
resolution, which authorizes the use of deadly
force against the perpetrators of the 9/11
attacks. Later on, this bill will be used as a legal
justification to spy on US citizens without a
court order, allow torture, invading the Middle
East, etc
The US military, with British and Canadian
support, launch operation Enduring Freedom.
The initial stages of the conflict consisted of
airstrikes whilst expeditionary forces were
being transported. Germany, France, and
Australia pledge future support
October 15, 1999
New Enemies
US Navy cruise missile
September 9, 2001
The Killing of Massoud
September 11, 2001
9/11
Ahmad Shah Massoud Pictured
American Airlines Flight 11 last moments
President Bush addresses Congress after the 9/11 attacks
September 18, 2001
Immorality Made Legal
B-52 strato-fortress carrying out a carpet bomb attack
October 7 2001
A New War
May 1, 2011
Osama Bin-Laden's hide-out in Pakistan
The End?
More than ten years after the 9/11 attacks,
Osama Bin-Laden is killed by US special forces
in Pakistan. With his death, a debate starts on
whether or not the US should stay in the region
after investing over a trillion dollars and with
countless lives lost.
Till this day, the US still maintains a significant presence in the Middle East--with nearly two
hundred military bases stationed there. Hundreds of thousands of lives lost, and with the main
goal achieved over a decade ago, is it time to leave? Many worry that if American forces were
to quickly withdraw, the power vacuum left behind would enable new terror organizations to
emerge--similar to when the Soviets backed out in 1989. As of right now, with new regional
powers contesting the Region--namely Iran and to an extent China--it does not appear that
within the foreseeable future America will leave.
By. Leo Lossing