September 11, 2001
Attack on the US by al-Qaeda
Terrorists successfully attacked three of four targets on the World Trade Center and Pentagon
Greatest loss of life since Pearl Harbor
Moved the US to declare the War on Terror
Global War on Terror
U.S. led war following 9/11 attacks
Goals of the offensive
Defeat terrorist such as Osama Bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and destroy their organizations
Identify, locate, and destroy terrorists
Deny sponsorship, support, and sanctuary to terrorists
Diminish the underlying conditions that terrorists seek to exploit
Defend U.S. Citizens at home and abroad