Drugs, war and terrorism were the unholy trinity that brought the US-led air campaign crashing down on the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in October 2001 in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)...The immediate aim was to eject the Taliban from power, and to capture or kill the al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his supporters whom the Taliban were sheltering. The decade-long war that followed, first against the Taliban regime, then against the Taliban insurgents, is one of the most controversial conflicts of recent times. It also saw the deployment of thousands of coalition troops and a huge range of modern military equipment, and these are the main focus of Anthony Tucker-Jones's account.

Introduction : The unholy trinity -- War is declared -- OEF -- The air war -- OEF -- Liberation of Kabul -- OEF -- The Battle for Tora Bora -- NATO takes charge -- "Terry' Taliban -- The IED War -- Tour of duty -- UOR -- THe Jackal -- Shouldering the burden.