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 collection

How the Military Response to 9/11 Led to Two Decades of War in Afghanistan

Producer: Joseph Hogan
Sr. Producer: Scott Michels
Editor: Brian Kamerzel
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.
Transcript Lesson Plan
 

More Like This

As Massacre Survivors Seek Justice, El Salvador Grapples With 1,000 Ghosts

As Massacre Survivors Seek Justice, El Salvador Grapples With 1,000 Ghosts

“Massacre in El Salvador,” a collaboration with Frontline and ProPublica, tells the story of the worst massacre in recent Latin American history, and why a final reckoning is at risk.

Gerrymandering Tilts Political Power. Here’s How Redistricting Affects Democracy.

Gerrymandering Tilts Political Power. Here’s How Redistricting Affects Democracy.

Both parties play the redistricting game, redrawing electoral boundaries to lock down power. Are you a teacher? Check out our teaching resources for this video and upcoming webinar.

Why the Cold War Race for Nuclear Weapons Is Still a Threat

Why the Cold War Race for Nuclear Weapons Is Still a Threat

The Cold War may be over, but an arms race continues, even as safeguards once in place have fallen away.

How the Korean War Changed the Way the U.S. Goes to Battle

How the Korean War Changed the Way the U.S. Goes to Battle

In the Cold War, North Korean Communists invaded South Korea. President Truman’s decision to intervene had consequences that shape the world today.