"I was not involved in the September 11 attacks in the United States nor did I have knowledge of the attacks. There exists a government within a government within the United States. The United States should try to trace the perpetrators of these attacks within itself… That secret government must be asked as to who carried out the attacks. … The American system is totally in control of the Jews, whose first priority is Israel, not the United States." 

-Osama bin Laden statement, published by BBC

In essence, this article is about a map, a video, a timeline, and a chart.  Please, take a few minutes to carefully examine each.

The Map

I have asked dozens, if not hundreds, of Americans to please tell me why, exactly, America is at war with Afghanistan, the longest war in American history.  Some say, "Because they attacked us."  Most have no answer, whatsoever, but instead ask me, "Why?"   I respond by asking them what large oil-producing nation borders Afghanistan in the west.  Some guess, "Iraq."  Nobody knows.  I then ask what large oil-consuming nation borders Afghanistan on the East.  Nobody knows.  I tell them the answers are Iran (Israel's and Saudi Arabia's arch enemy) and China.