Afghanistan War (1978-1992)By: Brittany Victoria Coster

Afghanistan War (1978-1992)

The War in Afghanistan refers to the intervention by NATO and allied forces in the ongoing Afghan civil war. The war followed the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in an effort to dismantle al-Qaeda and eliminate its safe haven by removing the Taliban from power.

U.S. President George W. Bush demanded that the Taliban hand over Osama bin Laden and expel al-Qaeda. The Taliban requested that bin Laden leave the country, but declined to extradite him without evidence of his involvement in the 9/11 attacks.

Afghanistan War (1978-1992) (Continued)

The United States refused to negotiate and launched Operation Enduring Freedom on October 7th 2001 with the United Kingdom.

The two were later joined by other forces, including the Northern Alliance. The U.S. and allies drove the Taliban from power and built military bases near major cities across the country. Most al-Qaeda and Taliban were not captured, escaping to neighboring Pakistan or retreating to rural or remote mountainous regions.

The Beginning The Sun shone brightly over New York City

on the morning of September 11th, 2001. There was barely a cloud in the sky as workers began settling into their Manhattan offices.

What promised to be a beautiful autumn day soon turned into one of the darkest days in the history of the United States.

At 8:46 a.m., an American Airlines jet was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Centre.

The Beginning (Continued)

Almost 20 minutes later, a United Airlines jet hit the World Trade Center’s South Tower.

Later in the morning, other airlines were crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and in a field in rural Pennsylvania.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed as a result of these events.

The Rise Of The Taliban Due to its strategic position between the Middle

East, Central Asia, and India, Afghanistan has long been considered a coveted possession.

In 1979, Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan and installed a pro-soviet communist government to stem a growing militant Islamic influence.

Guerrilla forces, calling themselves mujahideen, or “holy warriors,” soon pledged a jihad to expel the invaders.

After 10 years of fighting the Soviets pulled out of Afghanistan in 1989.

The Rise Of The Taliban (Continued)

By 1992, the mujahideen had established a new government.

Afghanistan was than reduced to a collection of territories held by competing Warlords.

In September 1996, the Taliban, a group of Islamic fundamentalists, seized control of Kabul.

By the fall of 1998, it controlled about 90 percent of the country.

Many Afghans were relieved to have the Taliban in charge. They were tired of their treatment at the hands of the corrupt warlords.

Canadians Serving In Afghanistan

In 2005, most of Canada’s Afghanistan-based forces were sent to Kandahar province, in the southern part of the country. This became their main base of operations until their combat role came to an end in 2011.

Together, all Canada’s forces operating as part of the Afghanistan war were called Joint Task Force Afghanistan. These forces included air, sea, and ground soldiers, and military support staff. Canada’s troops performed a wide range of roles in Afghanistan.

Heroic Canadians The men and women who served in

Afghanistan came from a range of backgrounds. What united them was a desire to join the fight against terrorism. While many performed heroic acts, as the war progressed, some names became more known than others. Some soldiers were hailed for their strong leadership. Others were celebrated because they showed bravery in extreme situations.

Heroic Canadians (Continued)

General Rick Hillier (RET.)

Nichola Goddard

Christopher Hasler

Michelle Lang

A Soldier’s Uniform Soldiers in Afghanistan had to be prepared for

the environment in which they were fighting. This meant having the proper battle gear as well as the proper clothing for the environment. Afghanistan can be both hot and cold, depending on the time of year and the location. They needed to make sure they had the following things; Canadian Disruptive Pattern, Ballistic Eyewear, Tactical Vest, Fragmentation Protective Vest, Helmet, Small Pack And Rucksacks, and Night Vision Goggles.

Canadian Disruptive Pattern

Ballistic Eyewear

Tactical Vest Fragmentation

Protective Vest

Helmet

Small Packs and Rucksacks Night

Vision Goggles

The Home Front The 9/11 attacks and subsequent war in

Afghanistan have had a profound effect on the world. Canada has not been excluded from the changes that have taken place as a result of the terrorist attacks. From increased security measures to its perception of the Muslim community, Canada has struggled to adapt to the changes that have taken place in and around the world.

Gender In The Military In World War I, women accounted for less than

one percent of Canada’s military personnel. In 2002, men still help the majority of military positions. However, the number of women serving had increased. When the war in Afghanistan began, women made up almost 15 percent of the Canadian Forces.

Gender In The Military

Men Women

How We Remember By the end of 2010, 154 Canadian soldiers and

five civilians had lost their lives in Afghanistan. More than 1,400 others were wounded. People wanted to honor those who had fought, those who had been wounded, and those who had died and by doing this they started the following:

- Highway of Heroes - Red Fridays - Memorial Inukshuk - Quinte West Memorial - Kandahar Airfield Memorial - Afghanistan Memorial

Afghanistan War Videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QWhgYSzeEM

Sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present

) http://

www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/7789/Afghan-War

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