The Influence of Factor Space on the Opening Stages of Enduring Freedom
Abstract
Immediately after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, CENTCOM commenced planning to destroy the Al Qaeda terrorist organization. Al Qaeda, aligned with the Taliban Government of Afghanistan, was using that country as a safe haven. As the initial stages of Operations Enduring Freedom were developing, the Operational Factor Space created some unique challenges for the CENTCOM planners. The long distances between the United States and its bases of operations, cultural concerns, and host nation limitations, drove CENTCOM to select a course of action that minimized the United States footprint in and around Afghanistan. This course of action intended to utilize Afghan Anti-Taliban Forces (ATF), in conjunction with United States Special Operating Forces, to drive the Taliban from power and destroy Al Qaeda. Although this concept proved successful in the Northern portions of Afghanistan, it met with marginal success in the Southern portions. When the ATF proved unreliable in pursuing Al Qaeda in the Tora Bora region, CENTCOM did not have a reserve of conventional U.S. forces in the theater that could be used as a decisive force. CENTCOM had not planned for this contingency. As a result the chance to remove the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, was lost.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 16, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA420289
Entities
People
- James K. La Vine
Organizations
- Naval War College