For the last three weeks, the Bush administration has been warning Taliban officials they had better accede to our country’s demands, “or else.”
Sunday, the first wave of our “or else” struck targets in Afghanistan, including the capital city of Kabul.
B-2 stealth bombers and cruise missiles were used in attacks throughout the Texas-sized nation beginning about 12:30 p.m. EDT, or 9 p.m. Kabul time. Afghan opposition forces also clashed with Taliban soldiers about 25 miles north of the capital.
This is a scenario we knew had to come. As we spent a day watching footage of airliners plunging into the World Trade Center towers, becoming an endless loop of carnage on our televisions, we promised the world there would be retaliation.
When this country regained its composure, our president addressed us and our Congress and again promised the world there would be retaliation.
And as the Taliban has consistently rebuked our government in its demands, there had to come a point where the United States would lose face if it did not follow up on its promise of swift and firm retaliation.
The time has come for America to put its money where its mouth is, so to speak.
Sunday’s attack was coordinated with Great Britain, where Prime Minister Tony Blair called this a “situation of utmost gravity.” France, Germany, Canada and Australia have also pledged a commitment of forces as the operation continues, and numerous other nations have pledged support in other ways.
We are fortunate the majority of the free world is with us on this decision to exercise our military capacity. The Bush administration did a good job rallying support and creating a coalition that now supports us in our actions against terrorism.
The details of this attack against Afghanistan are especially heartening. As President Bush made note of during his Sunday afternoon address, we are not attacking the Afghan people - but rather the government which uses the people and their religion for terrible and destructive purposes.
While we drop bombs on Taliban military targets, we will be dropping food, supplies and medicine on the Afghan populace.
This is a war on terrorism and an aid mission for those in need.
Perhaps as part of the benefit of having waited before sending an attack overseas, this carefully measured response demonstrates how well the United States understands the big picture. We need to show we do not intend to attack Islam, or the country of Afghanistan.
Few actions will demonstrate our purpose more clearly, and his will ensure our approval from the rest of the world, which we will need to continue this campaign.
But it remains that our commander in chief is sending America’s children to war. Some of them might not come back. Military officials have told us this will not be the usual kind of war, it may be long and drawn out and bloody.
But as the name of our military operation - Enduring Freedom - implies, the spirit of what they’re fighting for will endure, embodied by the freedom they’re working to ensure.
