The Afghanistan War (2001–2014) was fought by the United States in response to the 9/11 attacks. Al-Qaeda, the group thought responsible for the attack, was based in Afghanistan. Afghanistan was ruled by the Taliban, and the Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, leader of al-Qaeda.
The first phase of the war lasted only a couple of months. America used the Northern Alliance, an anti-Taliban force, to do the fighting on the ground. The United States provided support and air power. The Taliban were quickly defeated and forced from Kabul. Some of them—including Osama bin Laden—made it to the Pakistani border. Bin Laden was finally found and killed ten years later (2011) in Pakistan.
Corruption has been a major problem since 2001. America has spent billions on Afghanistan, but the country has made very little economic, political, or military progress. Much of the aid has ended up in corrupt officials's bank accounts or on schemes that did not benefit the populace.
Although the United States' direct combat role ended in 2014, it remains heavily involved in Afghanistan. If the United States were to withdraw, it is widely thought that the entire country would quickly be overrun by the Taliban. The United States has been negotiating with the Taliban for a long time, but an agreement remains elusive. The war has been an expensive stalemate. Victory is out of the question, and Washington seeks an "honorable" end to American involvement in a costly and unending war.
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