The sudden shift in behavior by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula following September 11, 2001 is primarily attributable to the subsequent defeat of Al-Qaida and Taliban forces at the Tora Bora mountain redoubt three months later. In December 2001, Afghan mujahideen forces with limited U.S. support engaged large groups of Al-Qaida fighters in a cave complex called Tora Bora in southeastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border. According to the former Al-Qaida press agency Azzam Publications, âThe Tora Bora mountain range comprises of low foothills and lofty mountains. It was expected for the Americans to land at the lower foothills first. Therefore, the Commander of the Mujahideen gave the order for new and relatively inexperienced brothers to go to the higher mountains, leaving the experienced fighters at the bottom.â The strategy proved ineffective as a result of smothering U.S. tactical airstrikes: âthere was no difference between the night and the day: the sky was raining fire and the Earth was erupting volcanoes.â Abortive attempts at regrouping and retreating caused the deaths of possibly hundreds of fleeing Al Qaida fighters caught underneath a hail of cluster bombs. As a result of the defeats at Tora Bora and three months later at Shah-i-Kot, âalmost all remaining al Qaeda forcesâ fled across the border with Pakistan seeking refuge in the remote, mountainous, and âlightly governedâ frontier provinces.
| At the time, the bad guyz were claiming Shah-i-Kot as a victory, and the MSM did their best to buy into it. |