01/15/2002
EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-09646

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

On September eleventh, terrorist attacks on the United States resulted in the deaths of more than three-thousand innocent people. An American-led coalition responded quickly.

Afghanistan is no longer a safe haven for Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida terrorists. The Taleban regime has been destroyed. Afghanistan is now being run by an interim administration led by Hamid Karzai. The global terrorist network is being dismantled.

But the recent deaths of seven U-S Marines in an airplane crash in Pakistan and the combat death of a Special Forces soldier in Afghanistan are a reminder that the war on terrorism remains both difficult and dangerous.

This is a war that the U-S had no choice but to fight. It is one that America is committed to winning.

As President George W. Bush said, "in our quest to defend freedom...there are enormous sacrifices and...[there is] no greater sacrifice than loss of life." But, said Mr. Bush, "the skill, the daring and the courage of our men and women in uniform are now clear to all...and clear to those who try to hide in caves." The U-S will find terrorist networks wherever they exist, and pull them out by their roots.

Afghanistan is a nation newly liberated from oppression. This is particularly true for the country’s long-suffering women. As President Bush said, "There is nothing more joyous than to see our military liberate women who have lived under [one of the most oppressive regimes] in the history of mankind. This cause is noble, and this cause is just. And we will stay at this cause until we have achieved our objective."

"The best way to secure America’s future," said Mr. Bush, "is to bring the terrorists to justice, and to say to those who think they can hide them, you too, are just as guilty as the murderers if you think you can hide them, and provide them aid, and provide them comfort."

America regrets the loss of those who have given their lives in the war on terrorism. But as President Bush said, "We’re a no-nonsense group of people who have got one thing in mind, and that is victory."