Today in Manhunting History -- October 7, 2001: Operation Enduring Freedom Begins

In the wake of the September 11th attacks, the Bush administration realized that in order to get to Osama bin Laden the United States and its allies would have to fight through the Taliban, who had rejected numerous entreaties to turn the Saudi over to U.S. custody or to administer justice themselves.  On October 7, the U.S. air campaign against al-Qa'ida and the Taliban began as bombers, strike aircraft, and cruise missiles pounded targets.  By the end of November, F-14s, F-16s, F/A-18s, B-52s, and B-1Bs had dropped approximately ten thousand bombs in Afghanistan.