Officials who drove the decades-long war in Afghanistan look back on the strategic mistakes and misjudgments that led to a 20-year quagmire.
For teachers: This video is part of a collection of resources including four short films, each accompanied by a lesson plan and student activity.
View the Teaching About 9/11 collectionHow the Military Response to 9/11 Led to Two Decades of War in Afghanistan
Within weeks of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan to attack Taliban strongholds. By the end of the year, the mission’s main goal was accomplished. But shifting objectives led to the expansion of a war that became the longest in U.S. history, ending in chaos.
Related:
As Afghanistan Collapses, a Lament for ‘Repeating the Same Mistakes’ by Clyde Haberman
For Afghan Women, Elusive Gains in Rights Are at Risk by Any Oberlink
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