U.S. aims to end its longest war in pact with Taliban

The United States and Taliban rebels signed a peace treaty which hopes to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan, the longest war in American history. The U.S. agreed to withdraw its 13,000 troops within 14 months if the Taliban cooperates with preventing future terrorist attacks. The war began after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks when the U.S. targeted Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban which has fought the U.S.-backed government since then. The Afghan government was not part of negotiations between the U.S. and Taliban.

Class discussion: What has the United States gained from nearly two decades of war in Afghanistan? Has going to war in Afghanistan and Iraq ended terrorist attacks in the United States and other countries? How many people were killed in those wars? How many of those killed were civilians? How much have the wars cost U.S. taxpayers? How many U.S. troops and ships are in the Middle East? Who or what are they protecting? Did the Taliban attack us on Sept. 11, 2001? Those terrorists came from which countries? Can you remember a time during your life when the U.S. was not at war?