in 2000, george w. bush was elected president. terrorists attacked the world trade center on september 11, 2001. thousands of people died. soon after the attacks, the u.s. and nato went to afghanistan to find osama bin laden and others who they believed planned the september 11 attacks. in 2003, the united states invaded iraq. the wars in iraq and afghanistan have lasted many years. by 2011, most american soldiers had left iraq, and combat there was over.