Patch
Photo credit: Jin S. Lee
Accession Number: CT.2017.16.1
Dimensions: Unavailable
Credit Line: Anonymous
Description
International Security Assistance Force team patch displaying the motto of special operations “targeting cycles." The patch is tan with black embroidery. "AFGHANISTAN" appears at the top and "SAF-COUNTER-IED" appears at the bottom. In the center is the logo for the ISAF, depicting a shield and two crossed swords and the targeting cycle "Find-Fix-Strike-Exploit."
International Security Assistance Force team patch displaying the motto of special operations “targeting cycles." The patch is tan with black embroidery. "AFGHANISTAN" appears at the top and "SAF-COUNTER-IED" appears at the bottom. In the center is the logo for the ISAF, depicting a shield and two crossed swords and the targeting cycle "Find-Fix-Strike-Exploit."
Historical Notes
The U.S. military began operations in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. By early November, approximately 100 CIA officers and 300 U.S. Special Forces were on the ground. International partners also provided troops. While the hunt for bin Laden continued for years, his discovery was not the U.S. government’s sole priority. America’s strategy to find bin Laden now hinged on tracking al-Qaeda’s global network.
More intelligence and better integration were key to fighting al-Qaeda. Intelligence and law enforcement officers deployed alongside troops overseas to help plan special operations. Raids increased in frequency and importance. Materials recovered from these missions, along with aerial imagery, information from detainee interrogations as well as local allies, and other sources produced a flood of intelligence to piece together evidence of terror networks.
Over the course of thousands of raids, armed forces and analysts sharpened methods for fighting terrorist networks: a target was identified from gathered intelligence, an operation was planned and executed, and the scene was searched for individuals and items of intelligence value. Newly collected intelligence was analyzed, in turn producing new targets.
The U.S. military began operations in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. By early November, approximately 100 CIA officers and 300 U.S. Special Forces were on the ground. International partners also provided troops. While the hunt for bin Laden continued for years, his discovery was not the U.S. government’s sole priority. America’s strategy to find bin Laden now hinged on tracking al-Qaeda’s global network.
More intelligence and better integration were key to fighting al-Qaeda. Intelligence and law enforcement officers deployed alongside troops overseas to help plan special operations. Raids increased in frequency and importance. Materials recovered from these missions, along with aerial imagery, information from detainee interrogations as well as local allies, and other sources produced a flood of intelligence to piece together evidence of terror networks.
Over the course of thousands of raids, armed forces and analysts sharpened methods for fighting terrorist networks: a target was identified from gathered intelligence, an operation was planned and executed, and the scene was searched for individuals and items of intelligence value. Newly collected intelligence was analyzed, in turn producing new targets.
