Military

DATE=03/05/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09743

TITLE=EDITORIAL: AFGHAN TASK FAR FROM OVER

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial expressing the policies of the United States Government:

Voice: Thanks to the United States-led coalition, the Taleban have been driven from power in Afghanistan, and the al-Qaida terrorists are on the run. But as U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld pointed out, "the task is far from over. . . . Substantial pockets of resistance remain." Taleban and al-Qaida forces are hiding in the villages and mountains around Afghanistan's borders, waiting for opportunities to fight or escape.

One pocket of resistance is located in the mountains south of the Afghan city of Gardez. A fierce battle has been raging there as coalition forces seek to kill or capture the well-armed Taleban and al-Qaida. Along with Americans and Afghans, coalition forces include military personnel from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, and other countries.

The coalition will continue fighting until the remaining al-Qaida and Taleban either surrender or are killed. As Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld said, "The choice is theirs. We have ground forces in position to check any large-scale effort to escape, and we will continue to add pressure until they have been taken care of." Moreover, said Mr. Rumsfeld, "this will not be the last such operation in Afghanistan."

As President George W. Bush made clear, "this is going to take a while. . . . The American people understand that." They know, said Mr. Bush, that if the al-Qaida terrorists were to escape, they "could conceivably harm the United States again. Therefore, we're going to hunt them down wherever they try to hide."

And what of Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al-Qaida terrorists? Said President Bush, "I know he's on the run, if he's running at all. And I know there's no cave deep enough for Osama bin Laden."

"He hit a country that he thought was weak," said President Bush. "Instead he hit a country that is determined to defend freedom. And that's exactly what we're going to do."

Anncr: That was an editorial expressing the policies of the United States Government. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-ibb-dot-gov-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.