--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the United States first went into…" description: "\"When the United States first went into Afghanistan in 2001, it devastated the Taliban and Al Qaeda in a matter of weeks using only a few hundred C.I.A...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/erik-prince-5732_air-power_when-the-united-states-first-went-into-a_1361142.jpg" --- # When the United States first went into Afghanistan in… ![“When the United States first went into Afghanistan in 2001, it devastated the Taliban and Al Qaeda in a matter of weeks using only a few hundred C.I.A. and Special Operations personnel, backed by American air power. Later, when the United States transitioned to conventional Pentagon stability…” quote by Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/erik-prince-5732_air-power_when-the-united-states-first-went-into-a_1361142.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/erik-prince-5732_air-power_when-the-united-states-first-went-into-a_1361142.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/erik-prince-5732_air-power_when-the-united-states-first-went-into-a_1361142.jpg) > “When the United States first went into Afghanistan in 2001, it devastated the Taliban and Al Qaeda in a matter of weeks using only a few hundred C.I.A. and Special Operations personnel, backed by American air power. Later, when the United States transitioned to conventional Pentagon stability operations, this success was reversed.” [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early US military success in Afghanistan relied on small elite forces and airpower, but later conventional forces reversed gains. **In simple terms:** Initial elite tactics succeeded, later conventional forces failed. Key Takeaway Balance elite and conventional strategies. Themes military strategy Afghanistan operations Mood reflective strategic Type military historical When to use this quote - military planning - policy advising - defense analysis - strategic studies - conflict resolution Key Concepts counterinsurgency force composition airpower stability operations Questions to Reflect On - How can stability be maintained after rapid victories? - What lessons apply to future interventions? A Different Perspective Large forces may lack agility of small teams. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Air power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air-power/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Special operations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-operations/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [The condition that the Taliban part with al Qaeda is not just a condition, it is an objective. We must convince them that al…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-khashoggi/the-condition-that-the-taliban-part-with-al-qaeda-is-not-just-a/) [Jamal Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-khashoggi/) > [By releasing these five top Taliban commanders, the U.S. is demonstrating that it is throwing in the towel in the long struggle against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-s-tobin/by-releasing-these-five-top-taliban-commanders-the-u-s-is/) Jonathan S. Tobin > [I've dealt with the Taliban and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-ve-dealt-with-the-taliban-and-al-qaeda/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [After 9/11, a few hundred CIA and Special Operations personnel, backed by airpower and Afghan militias, devastated Taliban and al-Qaeda forces. That effort has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/after-9-11-a-few-hundred-cia-and-special-operations-personnel-backed/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I went to Afghanistan in '96 to write about terrorist training camps south of Jalalabad and Tora Bora, in the mountains. I was there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-junger/i-went-to-afghanistan-in-96-to-write-about-terrorist-training-camps/) [Sebastian Junger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-junger/) > [I was shooting in Afghanistan in 2001, post 9/11. America was shelling the country and all the normal ways to enter the country were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-was-shooting-in-afghanistan-in-2001-post-9-11-america-was-shelling/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > ['Horse Soldiers' is the untold story of how a small band of U.S. Special Forces soldiers secretly entered Afghanistan in 2001, just five weeks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanton/horse-soldiers-is-the-untold-story-of-how-a-small-band-of-u-s-special/) [Doug Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanton/) > [“When we went after the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001, there was a certain understanding that we had the ability and the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scahill/when-we-went-after-the-taliban-in-afghanistan-in-2001-there-was-a/) [Jeremy Scahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scahill/) > [Of all the places I've been while talking to audiences about the U.S. Army's 5th Special Forces Group and their story in Afghanistan, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanton/of-all-the-places-i-ve-been-while-talking-to-audiences-about-the-u-s/) [Doug Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanton/) > [The decision to rely heavily on high-altitude air power, target urban infrastructure and repeatedly attack heavily populated towns and villages has reflected a deliberate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seumas-milne/the-decision-to-rely-heavily-on-high-altitude-air-power-target-urban/) Seumas Milne > [The Iraq War has thrown such a heavy shadow on Afghanistan that you can't hardly get any news about that now. I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/the-iraq-war-has-thrown-such-a-heavy-shadow-on-afghanistan-that-you/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [Deborah Rodriguez went to Afghanistan to transform her own life and ended up revolutionizing the lives of many of her Afghan sisters. This book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-hamilton/deborah-rodriguez-went-to-afghanistan-to-transform-her-own-life-and/) [Masha Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-hamilton/) > [When I went to Afghanistan in 2003, I walked into a war zone. Entire neighborhoods had been demolished. There were an overwhelming number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/when-i-went-to-afghanistan-in-2003-i-walked-into-a-war-zone-entire/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [I definitely pack coffee if I'm going someplace where it might not be available. When I went to Afghanistan in 2011, I brought a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/i-definitely-pack-coffee-if-i-m-going-someplace-where-it-might-not-be/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [On one occasion I went to Afghanistan to look at the borders and learn something about the situation there to see if my book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/on-one-occasion-i-went-to-afghanistan-to-look-at-the-borders-and/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) ## More by Erik Prince > [We now know that gun-free zones, though well intentioned, do not prevent attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-now-know-that-gun-free-zones-though-well-intentioned-do-not/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [The video game industry is constantly evolving. The sheer creativity matched with cutting-edge technologies gives me the comfort that innovation is alive and well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/the-video-game-industry-is-constantly-evolving-the-sheer-creativity/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Blackwater's work with the CIA began when we provided specialized instructors and facilities that the Agency lacked. In the years that followed, the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/blackwater-s-work-with-the-cia-began-when-we-provided-specialized/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Video games are an exciting medium. The creativity of design, the technology and the interaction represent the best of American innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/video-games-are-an-exciting-medium-the-creativity-of-design-the/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [There are some phone calls where it's not even worth wasting the electrons on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/there-are-some-phone-calls-where-it-s-not-even-worth-wasting-the/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Why should I pay for business? Fly coach, you arrive at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/why-should-i-pay-for-business-fly-coach-you-arrive-at-the-same-time/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [America is a great nation, but it cannot spend blood and treasure endlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot-spend-blood-and-treasure/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [You pretty much remove the entire political texture from Blackwater when you come to China. What they look at is our 100 per cent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/you-pretty-much-remove-the-entire-political-texture-from-blackwater/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Limited government is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/limited-government-is-best/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [In Joe Yorio you find a guy who's smarter at business than I am. I'm an entrepreneur and idea guy; he's a professional businessman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/in-joe-yorio-you-find-a-guy-who-s-smarter-at-business-than-i-am-i-m/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [One of the real core competencies of Blackwater, or companies like Blackwater, is we can operate in difficult places without any outside support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/one-of-the-real-core-competencies-of-blackwater-or-companies-like/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I'm painted as this war profiteer by Congress. Meanwhile I'm paying for all sorts of intelligence activities to support American national security, out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-painted-as-this-war-profiteer-by-congress-meanwhile-i-m-paying/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I'm an American working for America. Anything we do is to support U.S. policy. You know the definition of a mercenary is a professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-an-american-working-for-america-anything-we-do-is-to-support-u-s/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Our failed population-centric approach to Afghanistan has only led to missed opportunities, which is why Afghanistan depends on donors for 90% of government revenues.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/our-failed-population-centric-approach-to-afghanistan-has-only-led-to/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [President Trump should appoint a special presidential envoy and empower them to wage an unconventional war against Taliban and Daesh forces, to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/president-trump-should-appoint-a-special-presidential-envoy-and/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) [Explore all 100 Erik Prince quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## More Afghanistan quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [They're criminals, they brutalized Afghanistan, they killed our people, they destroyed our land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/they-re-criminals-they-brutalized-afghanistan-they-killed-our-people/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/) [Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [Because Iran understands Afghanistan far better than Americans do, making Iran a partner in a long-term effort to transform Afghan agriculture makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/because-iran-understands-afghanistan-far-better-than-americans-do/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I have been to Afghanistan many times, even before the Taliban collapsed. I was fascinated by the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-have-been-to-afghanistan-many-times-even-before-the-taliban/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) [Browse all 1,159 Afghanistan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the United States first went into Afghanistan in 2001, it devastated the Taliban and Al Qaeda in a matter of weeks using only a few hundred C.I.A. and Special Operations personnel, backed by American air power. 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