President Bush made a surprise visit to Afghanistan yesterday, an important gesture, and at the same time a reminder of this nation’s unfinished business – the capture of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and the stabilization of the new government in Kabul.
The effort in Iraq has overshadowed both endeavors.
Standing with Afghan President Hamid Karzai outside his palace in Kabul, President Bush said of bin Laden, “I am confident he will be brought to justice.” We hope he’s right, for it’s been more than four years since the Sept. 11 attacks and almost as long since the U.S.-led coalition invasion toppled the Taliban regime. So far, bin Laden has eluded capture, taunting Bush that he will not be taken alive.
Bush’s visit with Karzai underscored that much remains to be accomplished in Afghanistan. Even as the U.S. occupation of Iraq nears the three-year mark, Karzai’s fragile government faces increased violence from Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists.
The situation in Afghanistan is discouraging. On Tuesday, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency told Congress the insurgency there is growing, is likely to escalate this spring, and poses a greater threat than at any time since late 2001. “Despite significant progress on the political front, the Taliban-dominated insurgency remains a capable and resilient threat,” Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Attacks in Afghanistan grew 20 percent from 2004 to 2005, Maples said. Suicide bombings were up nearly fourfold, and use of improvised bombs more than doubled.
Eighteen thousand U.S. troops remain deployed in Afghanistan and 130,000 in Iraq.
Two-front wars are an arduous challenge. We wonder if American efforts had been focused after Sept. 11 on bringing bin Laden to account, instead of being sidetracked to Iraq, would Osama bin Laden still be sending messages of defiance?
