ABSTRACT
The consequences of the attack conducted on the United States mainland mean that the intervention in Afghanistan demands attention in any study of post-Cold War intervention. In times of crisis, the wheels of government do not move slowly. By 13 September, Secretary of State Colin Powell had sought and received overflight permission from Pakistan5 and on 14 September, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice knew a declaration of war against Afghanistan was imminent. Within a fortnight of the first aeroplane hitting the first tower, a broad international consensus had built and was standing behind the inevitable United States action in Afghanistan. In the months and years after September 2001, as the once in a generation storm of anger and distress has been quelled somewhat by the passage of time, and the intervention has turned into a Vietnam-esque quagmire, there have been some questions raised over the legality of the decision to launch strikes against Afghanistan.
