Chain of Command: The Road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib Chapter Summary & Analysis - Chapter 3, Part 2 Summary

Chapter 3, Part 2 Summary

In late 2001, the Northern Alliance (supported by the U.S.) forced a major Taliban retreat to the town of Kunduz. The Bush Administration opposed any surrender negotiations. Rumors persisted after the town was taken that some of the surrounded Taliban included Pakistanis, who were flown to safety. In the end, the numbers of captured didn't add up; many Taliban had disappeared.

The Northern Alliance took the capital city of Kabul in December, 2001. The U.S. Army prepared a major offensive in western Afghanistan, code-named Operation Anaconda. When Special Forces put down in the attack zone, the Taliban was ready and waiting with mortar fire. The troops were attacked as they deployed from the helicopters. There was a total unit failure as casualties were almost immediately taken and soldiers fled down the mountain. The team eventually received assistance from a nearby Australian unit. The media helped put a positive spin on...
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