01/06/2002
EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-09629

THE WAR WON’T END IN AFGHANISTAN

The U.S.-led coalition against terrorism has defeated Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network and its Taleban sponsors in Afghanistan. But the war against international terrorism will not end there. In the words of President George W. Bush, "Our war on terrorism extends [far] beyond Afghanistan."

The first priority for the U.S. is the complete destruction of al-Qaida. Al-Qaida was responsible for the September 11^th terror attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., as well as earlier terrorist attacks. Al-Qaida is believed to have operations in as many as sixty countries.

One country that has a large al-Qaida presence is Yemen. Yemen has launched a series of military operations in search of al-Qaida members. Yemeni special forces have been battling armed tribesmen in an attempt to capture suspected al-Qaida members who are hiding in Yemen’s Marib province.

The United States is willing to assist any nation that is seeking to rid itself of international terrorists. President Bush has said that the U.S. is willing to provide troops to other countries to fight terrorism on their own soil. "If a nation comes to us and says, 'We want some help,’ said Mr. Bush, "we'll get it done."

And President Bush has made it clear that the war against terrorism will not end with the defeat of al-Qaida, or with the capture or death of Osama bin Laden. "Our response," said President Bush, "involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes. This will be a broad campaign, fought on many fronts." It is a campaign that will be fought until the global terrorist networks that interact and support one another are destroyed.