This 12-minute video and lesson plan examine how within weeks of the Sept. 11 terror 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, and is ending in chaos. This lesson asks students to engage in a “Structured Academic Controversy.” The goal of the activity is for students to analyze sources, classify arguments, and engage in discussion.
How the Military Response to 9/11 Led to Two Decades of War in Afghanistan
Officials who drove the decades-long war in Afghanistan look back on the strategic mistakes and misjudgments that led to a 20-year quagmire.
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
For teachers
- Lesson plan 1: How the Military Response to 9/11 Led to Two Decades of War in Afghanistan
- Read transcript
- Book a producer
- Producer: Joseph Hogan
- Sr. Producer: Scott Michels
- Editor: Brian Kamerzel
For Educators
Subjects
Lesson Plan 1: How the Military Response to 9/11 Led to Two Decades of War in Afghanistan
How the Military Response to 9/11 Led to Two Decades of War in Afghanistan
How the Military Response to 9/11 Led to Two Decades of War in Afghanistan
Teaching About 9/11