Can anyone tell me when the current global war on terrorism (GWOT) started?
Please let’s not quibble over definitions. We all know that GWOT is not a good description of the events taking place in the world but it’s as good as any other.
It was 4 November 1979 when a group of Iranian “students” attacked and seized the American Embassy in Tehran. This was an attack on American soil AND it was an attack that held the world’s most powerful country hostage and paralyzed a Presidency. There were 66 Americans seized but some were released later. We had 52 Americans held from 4 Nov 1979 thru 20 Jun 1981
Unfortunately, this attack on the sovereign U. S. embassy set the stage for events to follow even up to today.
President Jimmy Carter and his team had so depleted the military and the CIA that we were almost at the will of our enemies. And, with such demonstration of weakness, Americans began to be kidnapped and killed throughout the Middle East.
Then in 1983 a truck packed with high explosives was driven into the compound where US Marines were living in Beirut, Lebanon. The rest is history.
We have been at war for over 30 years.
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I remember when they kicked the Shah out…and when President Jimmy Carter fouled up the rescue attempt of the hostages…Over the past few years I’ve made friends with several Iranians who were forced to flee Tehran during the takeover…and it is surely hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since that all happened. Good article, Tom.