Military

DATE=03/06/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09745

TITLE=EDITORIAL: AMERICAN-LED COALITION

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: Heavy fighting south of the Afghan city of Gardez highlights the fact that the war against terrorism in Afghanistan is far from over. But the fighting against a concentration of al-Qaida and non-Afghan Taleban forces shows the commitment of the U.S.-led coalition.

Contingents from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, and Norway are involved in the latest U.S.-led offensive, along with a large number of Afghan troops. And those are just a few of the nations involved in the global war against terrorism.

Since the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, nations around the world have recognized the gravity of the threat. The U-S is committed to working closely with other nations as they deal with terrorism in their own countries and regions.

"The criterion in fighting the war on terrorism is going to be to continue to listen to the needs and the requests of nations throughout the world as they deal with these issues," said presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer. It is, said Mr. Fleischer, "a healthy sign that since the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, nations have stepped up their efforts to rout out the terrorists wherever they may be."

One example is Georgia, where the U-S will provide training and equipment to help improve security. In fact, even before September 11th security cooperation was an important element of U-S relations with Georgia.

The U-S may help train Yemen's armed forces. Many al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan are from Yemen. Two years ago, al-Qaida terrorists killed nineteen sailors in an attack on an American ship in Aden harbor. Yemeni authorities have already detained a number of al-Qaida operatives.

As President George W. Bush said, "We can't stop now -- leaving terror camps intact and terror states unchecked -- our sense of security would be false and temporary. History has called America and our allies to action, and it is both our responsibility and our privilege to fight freedom's fight."

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.