Could it be that the U.S. had solid plans for an October 2001 invasion of Afghanistan as early as March 2001?
According to that bastion of liberal reporting, Janes Defense, in early 2001 America was actively courting nations to assist it in a military action against the Taliban. (Link)
The BBC went one step further in September 2001 and provided a source that openly states that from mid-July 2001 the plan was set for an October 2001 invasion. ( Link )
"A former Pakistani diplomat has told the BBC that the US was planning military action against Osama Bin Laden and the Taleban even before last week's attacks.
Niaz Naik, a former Pakistani Foreign Secretary, was told by senior American officials in mid-July that military action against Afghanistan would go ahead by the middle of October. "
With the release of the DSM, these articles make me wonder whether or not the swift action taken against Afghanistan post-9/11 was a foregone conclusion, terrorist attack or not.