Final answer:
In the late 1980s, Osama bin Laden began to create an international terrorist network known as Al-Qaeda. Following the September 11 attacks orchestrated by bin Laden's network, the US led a military campaign against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, which eventually shifted focus to Iraq. US intelligence found difficulties in tracking Al-Qaeda due to its cell structure within American society and the downward flow of communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Osama bin Laden and the Formation of Al-Qaeda
Osama bin Laden, a name synonymous with terrorism, attempted to create an international terrorist network in the late 1980s with the formation of Al-Qaeda. His network, comprising well-educated men, often from affluent backgrounds, created a challenge for US intelligence due to its deeply embedded cells within American society. The structure of this organization was such that communication only flowed downwards, safeguarding against the potential compromise of the network's hierarchy or the exposure of other cells by any single member.
The catalyst for the War on Terror, the September 11, 2001, attacks conducted by Al-Qaeda under bin Laden's leadership, left nearly 3,000 people dead, marking a pivotal moment in early twenty-first-century history. As a result, bin Laden's network and base of operations in Afghanistan became the focal point of US military action. The US-led military campaign sought to dismantle Al-Qaeda training camps and remove the Taliban from power, momentarily reducing the influence of these entities in the region.
Despite the initial focus on Afghanistan, the US military resources were eventually shifted to Iraq due to the mistaken belief that Saddam Hussein was connected with Al-Qaeda and that he possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) he might share with terrorist groups. This redirection of focus diminished the strength of operations in Afghanistan, allowing bin Laden and his network to persist.