Term 2 Home Learning - We slept with our boots on Task 1

The author, Steve Carlsen was an experienced soldier who was deployed to peacekeeping operations that were held in Kosovo in November 2001. Kosovo is a partially recognised state then and is land locked. There were many border disputes with Serbia and some of other issues with Yugoslavia.

Secondly, Steve Carlsen was involved in combat operations in Afghanistan in December 2002. The dispute then was called Operation Enduring Freedom. The objective of the operation was to destroy terrorist training camps and infrastructure. Raids were carried out and Steve most probably participated in them. This was the event that was described in the poem, and also the conflict described.

This is how the event went.
Seizing upon a power vacuum after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan after their invasion, the Taliban (Sunni Islamist Political Movement) assumed the role of government. Their extreme interpretation of Islamic law prompted them to ban music, television, sports, and dancing, and enforce harsh judicial penalties Also, terrorist groups formed. Amputation was an accepted form of punishment for stealing, and public executions could often be seen at the Kabul football stadium. Women's rights groups around the world were frequently critical as the Taliban banned women from appearing in public or holding many jobs outside the home. They drew further criticism when they destroyed the Buddhas of Bamyan, historical statues nearly 1500 years old, because the Buddhas were considered idols.


In 1996, Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden moved to Afghanistan upon the invitation of the Northern Alliance leader Abdur Rabb ur Rasool Sayyaf. When the Taliban came to power, bin Laden was able to forge an alliance between the Taliban and his Al-Qaeda organization. It is understood that Al-Qaeda-trained fighters known as the 055 Brigade were integrated with the Taliban army between 1997 and 2001. It has been suggested that the Taliban and bin Laden had very close connections

On September 20, 2001, the U.S. stated that Osama bin Laden was behind the September 11 attacks in 2001, and made a five point ultimatum to the Taliban:

1. Deliver to the U.S. all of the leaders of al-Qaeda
2. Release all imprisoned foreign national
3. Close immediately every terrorist training camp
4. Hand over every terrorist and their supporters to appropriate authorities
5. Give the United States full access to terrorist training camps for inspection

On September 21, 2001, the Taliban rejected this ultimatum, stating there was no evidence in their possession linking bin Laden to the September 11 attacks. Then, the fighting began. On Sunday October 7, 2001, American and British forces began an aerial bombing campaign targeting Taliban forces and al-Qaeda.


References: http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html