DATE=04/10/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09815

TITLE=EDITORIAL: ACHIEVEMENTS IN AFGHANISTAN

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: Six months ago, the United States-led coalition, together with Afghan resistance forces, began military action in Afghanistan. The campaign marked the beginning of a global war on terrorism. Much has been accomplished. The Taleban regime is no longer in power. The al-Qaida terrorist network, headed by Osama bin Laden, no longer uses Afghanistan as a safe haven.

But as U.S. Defense Department spokeswoman Torie Clarke said, "We still have a long way to go [in Afghanistan]. There are still pockets of al-Qaida and Taleban. It is still a very dangerous place."

The U-S is committed to fighting terrorists and those who support them for as long as necessary. As U.S. General Richard Myers put it, "What we've said from the very start is the goals of the global war on terrorism are against international terrorist organizations, those nation states or others that support them, and against those who have weapons of mass destruction that might fall into terrorist hands."

There have been notable achievements. Among them, the recent capture by Pakistani authorities of Abu Zubaydah, the reported operations chief for al-Qaida. This type of cooperation is occurring all over the world.

Though considerably weakened, al-Qaida is still a viable force. The pockets of Taleban and al-Qaida terrorists remaining in Afghanistan, said General Myers, "would just love to create instability." They may try to disrupt the Afghan interim administration. The coalition will not let this happen.

The U.S. and other countries, and international aid organizations, will continue to support Afghanistan's needs, including the creation of an Afghan national army. General Myers said that the U.S. is committed to supporting the interim administration -- "the best hope the Afghan people have for a more normal and prosperous life."

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.