The campaign in transition: from conventional to unconventional war

Unexpectedly, the war in Afghanistan accelerated ahead of the estimated timetable prepared by the staffs of the United States Central Command and its special-operations units. As had been planned, U.S. Army Special Forces detachments flew into Afghanistan beginning in October 2001. The winter was to have been a "Valley Forge" experience for the supposedly beleaguered Afghan Northern Alliance. SF detachments were to spend those cold, snowy months in the valleys of the rugged Hindu Kush, drilling the loose collection of warrior bands into a well-trained and well-equipped army. Sepp discusses various elements of the US war on terrorism in Afghanistan.