Just the Beginning

When terrorists and hostile regimes make possible the slaughter of 6,000 American citizens, justice demands that those responsible pay a price. By launching a military campaign against Osama bin Laden and the Taliban regime that supports him, the United States has demonstrated that the hour of payment has arrived.

The present military conflict, which began on Sunday with a barrage of bombs and missiles targeted at the terrorist camps of al Qaeda and the military infrastructure of Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban regime, is still in its infancy. We know little about our nation’s military strategy. Some have suggested that these initial air strikes are designed to weaken the Taliban’s power bases and minimize its ability to resist, preparing the way for future ground efforts against the terrorists, who have almost certainly burrowed into protective positions in Afghanistan’s rugged terrain. But at this stage, we neither know the exact effect of our opening volley nor how long the fighting will last.

What we can and must know is that the purpose of our campaign is just. There can be no dispute that destroying terrorist networks which plot the death of innocent civilians is in the best interest of the United States and of the world. Nor can there be any question that removing the Taliban from power is necessary in order to achieve a lasting peace. The Taliban regime has shown itself again and again to be the sponsor, ally and protector of terrorists. With full knowledge of bin Laden’s announced intentions, the Taliban made him its guest of honor. Not only has the Taliban allowed bin Laden to train new recruits and plot anti-American attacks from his Afghan strongholds, they have defiantly stonewalled international efforts to bring bin Laden to justice in the wake of last month’s atrocities. And, given the Taliban’s history of violence and deceit, there is no reason to believe that their future policies will prove more conducive to our security. Neither our national interests nor the lives of our citizens will be safe until the Taliban’s rule of oppression, hatred and terror has ended.

But America’s campaign involves more than bombs and missiles. Even as the United States bombarded Afghanistan’s ruling regime, it simultaneously dropped tens of thousands of humanitarian packages containing food and medicine for impoverished Afghan refugees. This highly unusual step underscores President George W. Bush’s insistence that the United States is a friend of the Afghan people, and it demonstrates America’s commitment to minimize civilian suffering. It also provides a striking contrast to the tactics of terrorist organizations like al Qaeda, which deliberately deal devastation and death to the innocent and unprotected.

While these aid packages are praiseworthy, they are not enough. The people of Afghanistan need food, but they also need a government that respects human rights and international law. During his presidential campaign, Bush argued against state-building and instead advocated only those military actions that promote our national interest. But in this case, creating a stable Afghanistan coincides exactly with our national interest. As the U.S. envisions the downfall of the Taliban, it must also accept the responsibility of ensuring that Afghanistan’s future rulers are not equally oppressive and friendly to terrorists. Although it is premature to determine precisely how this goal will be accomplished or who will be involved in shaping the future of Afghanistan, these questions must be a central part of our planning.

Our dedicated commitment to rebuilding Afghanistan will also prove that U.S. strikes against the Taliban are not the initial salvos in Osama bin Laden’s distorted dream of a war that pits Islam against the West. An enduring peace will be secured best by winning the support and sympathy of Muslims throughout the world. As we use our might and our wealth to bring stability and prosperity to the people of Afghanistan, our leaders must call upon the governments of Islamic states to publicize our humanitarian efforts and plead America’s case to their own citizens. We have recognized that our cause is against the terrorists, and not against innocent people—but the Muslim world must recognize this as well.

Each of us must also face the troubling reality that, in this war, the term “home front” is no longer a metaphor. Our enemies have already shown, to devastating effect, their ability to penetrate our shores. America must prepare itself for the possibility—or, perhaps, the certainty—that terrorists will attempt to attack us again as we work, play, study and live our lives. But we must never let our preparedness give way to fear and hesitancy. Our diplomatic efforts had failed, due to the obstinancy of the Taliban; and if, rather than initiate military action, the United States had done nothing in the face of Sept. 11, the terrorists who hate America would have continued plotting attacks against us. If anything, our complacency would have entrenched the perception of American vulnerability and emboldened terrorists to inflict even greater harms. When one is attacked, fighting back always involves a certain risk. But to shun the fight would be far more perilous.

The present challenge will likely prove different from any other in our national history. Our enemy is largely invisible. There will be neither quick victory through surgical air strikes nor decisive battles fought by massed troops. This conflict is no video-game war observable from the safety of a television set, but a war whose enemy is real and whose presence we have already felt. Now, for the first time in a generation, we must accept the fact that there are times when victory comes at a cost. But it is difficult indeed to imagine that the cost will be dearer than the ideals we fight to defend.