None of us will soon forget 9 September, 2001, and the horrific pictures of planes crashing into our buildings as our citizens leaped to their death to escape the fires.  We may not recall, however, that on September 20, 2001, the US government declared that Osama bin Laden was behind the attacks or that we issued the Taliban this five point ultimatum:

1. Surrender al-Qaeda leaders 

2. Release imprisoned foreign nationals

3. Close terrorist training camps 

4. Surrender other terrorists and their  supporters

5. Provide full access to terrorist training  camp sites

     The Taliban refused to comply, and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) commenced October 7 with the goals of capturing bin Laden, dismantling al-Qaeda, removing the Taliban from power, and preventing the use of Afghanistan as a future safe haven for terrorists. U.S. and British air strikes toppled the Taliban regime within two months, and Northern Alliance and NATO forces soon captured the Kabul, but Bin Laden escaped. He was believed to have fled to the mountainous region of Tora Bora, but a heavy bombing campaign there failed to eliminate him. In November of 2001 allied forces established the first ground base in Afghanistan southwest of Kandahar.