The War In Afghanistan Enters A New Phase

Norfolk Virginian-Pilot | November 28, 2001

[Stand Watch Listen]

The war in Afghanistan continues to go well, a credit to the U.S. military and its strategy of coordination with Northern Alliance forces, as well as a reflection of the Taliban regime's evident weakness.

But the relatively easy triumphs so far should not blind Americans to dangers and difficulties that lie ahead. The war effort and attempts to secure a post-Taliban peace have entered a critical phase. This phase, while made possible by the routing of the Taliban, is complicated by Afghanistan's rough military and political terrain.

The ousting of the Taliban theocracy, it must be remembered, was never the ultimate goal. It was a means to the end of destroying sanctuary for terrorists who attacked America, so as to then destroy the terrorist network itself.

Defeating the last, most obstinate lines of resistance and going after Osama bin Laden and his closest warriors could prove extremely bloody. They are holed up in mountains and caves. They probably are prepared to fight to the death.

This phase of the war in the South also will require more use of U.S. ground troops, already deployed by the hundreds this week. As President Bush has warned, close-in fighting could produce American casualties.

Even so, most of the public seems prepared to accept casualties as a byproduct of an effective response to the killings committed on Sept. 11. The military push will be a deterrent against future terrorist acts. Besides, ultimate success against bin Laden and his remaining forces in Afghanistan now seems assured.

Less certain, but also important, is the political outlook for post-Taliban Afghanistan. Talks for setting up a transitional government are under way in Germany this week. A difficult challenge is to assure that Northern Alliance warlords not dominate the government, even though they defeated the Taliban (albeit not without critical U.S. air support) and hold the capital, Kabul.

The last time the Northern Alliance held Kabul, the nation was engulfed in civil war. A large role in a future government must be reserved for anti-Taliban Pashtuns, who represent Afghanistan's largest ethnic group but were not part of the Northern Alliance.

All of which might tempt some Americans to ask: ``Why should we care who rules Afghanistan once we've killed bin Laden and his terrorist legions?'' To which the answer is: Study the past.

After helping Muslim freedom fighters oust Soviet occupiers, the United States during the Cold War lost interest inAfghanistan. But the chaos that prevailed in the 1990s, on top of decades of misrule, cynical machinations by neighboring states and savage civil war, helped make that country an inviting haven for the terrorists who have attacked us.

With the help of Western allies and the United Nations, efforts to promote stability may ensure against the possibility of Afghanistan ever again offering sanctuary and support to mass murderers.