Activity: How the Military Response to 9/11

Led to Two Decades of War in Afghanistan

Background: Within weeks of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan to attack Taliban
strongholds. By the end of the year, the mission’s main goal was accomplished. But shifting objectives led to
the expansion of a war that became the longest in U.S. history, and is ending in chaos.

Objective: Should the United States have withdrawn from Afghanistan? Examine resources that trace the 20-
year response to the 9/11 attacks, and analyze various perspectives about the recent U.S. military withdrawal.
Engage in a “Structured Academic Controversy” to explore the pros and cons of the U.S. decision and
advocate for a solution.

View the film “How the Military Response to 9/11 Led to Two Decades of War in Afghanistan.”
Complete the timeline and analyze the perspectives presented in the film.

9/11 Attacks and U.S. Troop

the Invasion of After watching the film, identify and describe 3 key events that occurred Withdrawal & Fall
Afghanistan between the invasion of Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul. Describe the event of Kabul
(2001) and explain why you feel it was an important marker in the War in Afghanistan. (August 2021)

On Sept. 11, 2001,
multiple targets in the
United States were
attacked by Al Qaeda,
an Islamic extremist
group that was given
safe harbor to operate in
Afghanistan. The United
States invaded
Afghanistan in October
2001 and targeted the
Taliban-led government
that allowed Al Qaeda to
operate there.
Event #1: Event #2: Event #3: On Aug. 15, 2021,
Taliban forces took over
the capital city of Kabul.
President Ashraf Ghani
fled the country and the
U.S.-trained Afghan
Armed Forces provided
no resistance to Taliban
fighters. The remaining
United States military
presence in the country
acted to evacuate
American citizens and
some Afghans.

Critical Thinking: Consider the Essential Question: Should the United States have withdrawn from
Afghanistan? From the views presented in the film, summarize the Pro & Con arguments. Provide support for
your thoughts by referencing the film.

PRO: Yes, the U.S.

was right to withdraw.

CON: No, the U.S.

was wrong to
withdraw.

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Structured Academic Controversy: The next portion of this lesson asks students to analyze arguments on
one side of the Essential Question. Form groups of four, with one pair of students investigating the “PRO”
position and the other pair the “CON” position. In pairs, students will work together to classify the arguments
and justify the assigned position with evidence from the texts. Then, the pairs will come together to explain
their best evidence to the other side. After hearing both sides, the goal of the Structured Academic Controversy
is to reach consensus, and answer the Essential Question with one clear statement accompanied by
supporting evidence.

Resources for further investigation: With your partner, choose at least three articles to read and analyze
from your assigned side.

PRO: Yes, the U.S. was right to withdraw. CON: No, the U.S. was wrong to withdraw.

● Our Military Must Remain Focused on Its
Mission - Newsweek
● Biden Could Still be Proved Right in
Afghanistan - New York Times
● Biden Was Right - The Atlantic
● Biden Was Right - Council on Foreign Relations
● Biden’s Right That It’s Time for Us to Leave
Afghanistan - The Daily Beast
● Humiliating as it may be, leaving Afghanistan is
still the right decision - The Hill
● Biden is wrong. There was nothing inevitable
about the disaster in Afghanistan - Washington
Post
● I Was a Marine in Afghanistan. We Sacrificed
Lives for a Lie - New York Times
● Disaster in Afghanistan Will Follow Us Home -
New York Times
● Back to Square One in the War on Terror -
National Review
● The Big Hole in Biden’s Afghan Speech - CNN
● America’s Withdrawal of Choice - Council on
Foreign Relations

Which position are you

investigating, PRO or CON?

Source #1 - Which article did

you choose? Summarize the
main idea and provide
supporting details from the
article.

Source #2 - Which article did

you choose? Summarize the
main idea and provide
supporting details from the
article.

Source #3 - Which article did

you choose? Summarize the

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 main idea and provide
supporting details from the
article.

Structured Academic Controversy: First, with your partner, explain the three strongest pieces of evidence
you encountered for your assigned side. Then have a conversation with the other pair. Listen and take notes
as they lay out their argument. Don’t interrupt. Jot down questions you have, and you can inquire when they
finish.

PRO: Yes, the U.S. was right to withdraw. CON: No, the U.S. was wrong to withdraw.

Evidence #1: Evidence #1:

Evidence #2: Evidence #2:

Evidence #3: Evidence #3:

Consensus Building: Each pair may now abandon their assigned side, and the group should attempt to
reach consensus. Is there an acceptable answer to the Essential Question that the four of you can agree on?
Work together to craft a statement that addresses the EQ. If you cannot agree on one statement, explain
where your differences lie.

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