ABSTRACT
In 2001–2002 the United States’ novel use of special operations forces, precision weapons, and indigenous allies toppled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Three years later a guerrilla insurgency continues; it is still too early to tell whether the United States’ ultimate war aim of a stable, democratic Afghanistan will be met. But one outcome is already clear: a Taliban regime that had survived a six-year-long civil war against its Northern Alliance enemies was swept from power in just three months of fighting after the United States entered the war. And this military outcome was obtained without a large-scale commitment of American ground troops.
