Although this book investigates the Taliban’s victory, its social causes, and its consequences from a predominantly political scientific vantage point, understanding the nature of that triumph and the emergence of the Talibanland requires us to consider and chronicle the most recent Afghan war. The 9/11 attacks triggered global shockwaves and opened a new, albeit de courte durée, era of world history. The two-decade War on Terror became one of the longest and bloodiest in American history. This chapter examines the evolution of US counterterrorism policy in response to the rise of the Taliban. However, changes in America's strategy did not lead to positive results.