The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks caught the United States without a plan for military operations in Afghanistan. In less than 30 days, the Department of Defense created a plan that involved an unprecedented combination of special operations forces (SOF), Afghan fighters, and airpower. Operations were initiated on October 7, and Afghanistan's Taliban government was toppled in less than two months. An interim administration was installed on December 22, and civil-military operations began. This report describes the preparations for Operation Enduring Freedom at CENTCOM and elsewhere, Army operations and support activities, building a coalition, and civil-military operations in Afghanistan through the end of June 2002. The research used contemporary records and interviews with key participants to gain authoritative perspectives on events and issues.

Chapter One.Introduction. A different kind of war for U.S. Forces -- Other military demands of the War on Terrorism -- Homeland Security -- Force Protection -- The War on Terrorism outside Central Asia -- Meeting the manpower requirements -- The area of operations -- About this report -- Purpose -- Organization of this report -- Chapter two. Laying the groundwork -- The strategic context -- Building and managing the Coalition -- The Coalition -- Indigenous partners -- Joint and Covert Forces -- Technology humanitarian operations and reconstruction -- Pre-September 11 planning and operations against Al Qaeda -- Developing the war plan: September 11-October 6, 2001 -- War aims emerged -- Initial military planning -- Intelligence community planning -- Role of the Allies in planning -- Planning at CENTCOM -- Guidance to planners -- Component and supporting command planning -- ARCENT planning -- CENTAF planning -- Observations -- Coordination with Coalition Partners -- Inter-Agency coordination -- Humanitarian operations -- Deliberate planning -- Chapter three. Toppling the Taliban -- Command and control -- Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance Role of the CIA -- Unmanned aircraft systems -- Intelligence fusion centers -- Intelligence failures -- Air operations -- Basing -- Control of air assets -- The Bombing campaign -- Air-Ground operations with Anti-Taliban Forces -- Mazar-e Sharif -- Kandahar -- The Collapse of the Taliban -- Role of Special Forces -- Air and Air-Ground operations -- Conventional ground forces -- Marines -- Army Forces -- Logistics -- Concurrent humanitarian operations -- The detainees -- Treatment of detainees -- National Detainee Database -- Treatment in Afghanistan facilities -- Rules for the use of force -- Treatment at Camp X-Ray The Debate over detainee status - the U.S. Position -- Arguments against U.S. policy -- Implications -- Observations -- Command and control -- Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance -- The Coalition -- Humanitarian assistance -- Treatment of detainees -- Chapter four. Hunting down Taliban and Al Qaeda remnants -- Control of ground forces -- Task Force 58 -- Formation of Task Force 58 -- Coordinating operations with Pakistan -- Joint and Coalition operations -- FOB Rhino -- Operations -- Taking the Kandahar Airport -- Sensitive site exploitations -- Detainee Operations5 -- Air support operations -- End of mission -- Tora Bora -- The area of operations -- Indigenous forces -- Operations -- The end game -- A missed opportunity -- Operation ANACONDA -- Planning -- Execution -- Roberts Ridge -- End Game -- Summing up -- Chapter five. Building for the long run. Putting international efforts in place -- Establishing the interim administration -- Providing international financial assistance -- Setting up the International Security Assistance Force -- Coordinating and conducting Civil Affairs activities -- Stabilization role of U.S. Forces -- The Afghan National Army -- Other stability activities Chapter 6. Conclusions and recommendations. What worked well -- Recommendations -- Joint and Coalition operations -- Deployment and sustainment -- Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance -- Operations with Special Operations Forces -- Stability and support operations – Implications for Army modernization -- Chapter 7. Epilogue. The military situation -- Governance -- International financial support -- The Afghan economy -- Reconstruction and human development -- Prospects.

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