Enduring Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is the "military response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States ... assigned the name Operation Enduring Freedom, [it] was previously planned to have been called Operation Infinite Justice (this name is believed to have been changed following concerns that this might offend the Muslim community as Islam teaches that Allah is the only one who can provide Infinite Justice).". The Operation is comprised of two operations:
- The U.S.-lead invasion of Afghanistan
- Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines (OEF-P) (formerly Operation Freedom Eagle)
History
OEF commenced on October 7, 2001, with "early combat operations operations [including] a mix of air strikes from land-based B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers; carrier-based F-14 and F/A-18 fighters; and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from both U.S. and British ships and submarines."
"The initial military objectives of Operation Enduring Freedom, as articulated by President George W. Bush in his to a Joint Session of Congress and his to country, include the destruction of terrorist training camps and infrastructure within Afghanistan, the capture of al Qaeda leaders, and the cessation of terrorist activities in Afghanistan."
On May 2, 2003, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced . However, on December 9, 2003, the U.S. military that it had "launched a major ground operation in Afghanistan in an effort to eliminate the remnants of al Qaeda and the Taliban regime overthrown in 2001."
Effectiveness of the invasion of Afghanistan
AFP, reporting on a news story in the Sunday, April 3, 2004, , writes that retired Army Colonel Hy Rothstein, "who served in the Joseph Collins told The New Yorker."
