2001–2003Reputable sourceWell documented
The War on Terror: Afghanistan and Iraq
On the timeline · around 2001–2003 ·
What happened
In response to 9/11, the United States launched the 'Global War on Terror.' It invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 to topple the Taliban and destroy al-Qaeda, and in March 2003 invaded Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Both campaigns won quickly but became long, costly occupations and insurgencies.
Why it matters
The wars defined American foreign policy for two decades, cost trillions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives, and ended with the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 — reshaping views of American power at home and abroad.
Sources
- George W. Bush Presidential Library. Global War on Terror · Reputable source