Afghanistan War Anniversary

Today marks the eighth anniversary of the start of the war in Afghanistan.

On Oct. 7, 2001, President George W. Bush made the announcement that U.S. military had begun bombing of mountain ranges in Afghanistan aimed at capturing and killing people -- namely al-Queda and Taliban members -- the U.S. considered responsible for the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and an intended attack on the White House.

Eight years later, President Barack Obama and military leaders are discussing strategy for the future warfare -- or not -- in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, where Taliban and al-Queda fighters have sought refuge and taken over large areas of land and local populations.

Since 2001, as many as 8,000 military men and women have died fighting in Afghanistan, more than 230 of those during 2009.

Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org