The War in Afghanistan: By the Numbers
The War in Afghanistan: By the Numbers. Get Facts and Photos
1 / 16
Afghanistan War: By the Numbers - The United States has exhausted considerable military effort in the Asian nation that is home to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda organization. Throughout the years since 2001, everything from dollar figures to death tolls has been associated with the battle that is one of President Obama’s most significant issues inherited from the Bush administration. Following is a look at numbers that tell the story in Afghanistan.
2 / 16
Oct. 7, 2001 - The date the U.S. launched “Operation Enduring Freedom." It was, essentially, a response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that left thousands dead in New York City. With support from Britain, the effort began with an aerial bombing against the Taliban, in an attempt to root out the base of bin Laden’s terror network.
3 / 16
$2.3 Billion - In November 2002, the U.S. Congress passed legislation calling for that amount in reconstruction funds for Afghanistan.
4 / 16
$1 Billion - Congress approved an additional $1 billion to help expand an international military force sent to Afghanistan with the United Nations’ backing.
5 / 16
200 - The number of al-Qaeda defenders left dead after the December 2002 battle at Tora Bora. Osama bin Laden – Bush’s target – was nowhere to be found.
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 16
Two - A duo of international military coalitions, Operation Enduring Freedom and the UN’s International Security Assistance Force, have fought for control of Afghanistan since 2001.
7 / 16
42 - The number of countries represented by the International Security Assistance Force. The coalition represents over three-dozen sovereign governments.
8 / 16
Three - The total of years now of regression. Instead of creating stability, data shows that military efforts against terror in Afghanistan have led to increased insurgency since 2006.
9 / 16
90 - The approximate percentage of the world’s production of illegal opium that takes place in Afghanistan, due to its growth of poppy plants. Production has doubled since anti-terrorism efforts began.
10 / 16
Dec. 7, 2004 - The date Hamid Karzai is sworn-in as the Afghanistan’s first democratically elected leader.
ADVERTISEMENT