The United States and Great Britain launched attacks on Afghanistan on Sunday October 7. Among the cities and areas that were attacked included Kabul, Kandahar, Jalalabad and Herat Aria which is in the northwest. President Bush in a televised address to the nation on Sunday said the strikes on Afghanistan follow the Taliban’s refusal to meet U.S. demands to turn over suspected terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden is accused of being behind the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon.
“More than two weeks ago, I gave Taliban leaders a series of clear and specific demands: Close terrorist training camps, hand over leaders of the Al Qaeda network and return all foreign nationals, including American citizens unjustly detained in our country,” Bush said. “None of these demands were met. And now, the Taliban will pay a price.” The price as of now is missile attacks on Afghanistan, these attacks are suspected to last several days.
The first strikes on Afghanistan occurred around 8:45 p.m. Sunday (12:45 p.m. EDT). The attacks included strikes by cruise missiles and B-1, B-2, B-52 and F-18 warplanes. While the military launched missiles it also dropped food and aid for Afghans from C-17 Cargo planes. Sites that were targeted included terror camps, air bases and Taliban command centers.
The Taliban threatened violence against the United States as soon as the attacks started. The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan released a statement soon after American and British forces started attacking Afghanistan. “These brutal attacks are horrendous, terrorist acts, as inhuman as any in the world. America will never achieve its political goals by launching bestial attacks on the Muslim people of Afghanistan.”
The United States government is concerned about more attacks on the U.S. as Afghanistan continues to be attacked. Security will be tightened not only at airports and stadiums but also at ship ports and nuclear power plant locations.