U.S. suffers setback in push to bolster Taliban opposition

The United States gained additional support from its allies in the coalition against terrorism but lost a symbol in its efforts to undermine the ruling Taliban regime in Afghanistan, where the military campaign headed into its fourth week.

Britain announced it would assign 200 Royal Marine commandos, trained to fight in cold mountain conditions, to the region. It is an indication that a ground war against the Taliban and terrorists linked to Osama bin Laden may be forthcoming and could last beyond the Islamic religious period of Ramadan, which begins next month.

But efforts to create an anti-Taliban coalition in the south of Afghanistan to complement the existing Northern Alliance resistance suffered a setback Friday with the capture and execution of opposition leader Abdul Haq.

Unlike the ethnic Uzbeks and Tajiks who make up the Northern Alliance, Haq was part of Afghanistan’s Pashtun majority and was seen in some quarters as one of the brightest hopes for organizing a coalition to help topple the Taliban regime and to run the country after its demise.

A war hero who lost a foot to a land mine during the 1980s Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, Haq slipped over the border from Pakistan a week ago on a mission to persuade tribal leaders in his old home territory to switch to the opposition. But Taliban militia captured him and hanged him Friday after a summary trial.

His death underscored the challenge facing U.S. officials as they try to undermine the Taliban regime and replace it with a government acceptable not only to Washington but also to its allies in the war on terrorism. Pakistan, home to a sizable Pashtun population and a key U.S. partner, vehemently opposes the Northern Alliance, while other factions worry civil war could erupt should the Taliban fall without a replacement government ready to step in.

Another fallen leader

Haq was seen by many, including himself, as a possible leader in that government. Instead, he became the second opposition leader to die in two months. Shortly before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, Northern Alliance commander Ahmed Shah Massood was assassinated by suicide bombers with suspected ties to Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the hijacking attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Haq’s death “would be very sad and regrettable.”

His death also is only the latest indication that persuading Taliban loyalists to switch sides to U.S.-based groups will be difficult. It also comes amid signs of mounting resistance from overseas to the U.S.-led offensive and questions about its effectiveness as it approached the end of its third week.

On Friday, President Bush dismissed suggestions that U.S. forces had bogged down in Afghanistan in their hunt for bin Laden.

“We’re slowly but surely dismantling the Taliban defenses,” he told a group of business leaders. “The American people are going to have to be patient.”

Bush rejected criticisms that the federal government’s response to mail-borne anthrax, which killed two more people this week, has been slow and inadequate. He said the “culture in our agencies” has changed and they are now interested in preventing attacks.

“It’s hard for some Americans to realize that this is a two-front war,” Bush said. “After all, history has basically said there would never be two fronts, one abroad and one in America.”

Red Cross hit again

Friday’s attacks on the capital, Kabul, took place on a Muslim holy day, some of them at a time when many people were preparing for midday prayers in the mosques.

After a lull, wave after wave of attacks resumed after sundown, with jets diving and dropping their bombs and missiles. Large explosions shook the city in rapid succession.

During the daylight attacks on Kabul, one bomb exploded near the compound of the International Committee of the Red Cross, setting a warehouse filled with humanitarian goods on fire. The same compound was hit previously on Oct. 16.

Matter being investigated

Speaking to reporters at the daily Pentagon briefing, Rear Adm. John Stufflebeem said he had heard the reports and the Pentagon was investigating what happened and why.

U.S. officials have said repeatedly that they are not targeting civilian buildings, but have noted that Taliban troops have been hiding in mosques and schools.

The Pentagon said it is continuing to direct its air assault against Taliban ground forces, including those arrayed against the Northern Alliance rebels, and is sticking to its schedule.

Stufflebeem vigorously denied criticisms coming from Pakistan and elsewhere that the U.S. is getting bogged down.

“I don’t personally believe that we are being bogged down or are getting bogged down,” he said.

“This is a very complicated operation. This is not traditional force-on-force warfare.”

Stufflebeem said part of the impatience with the U.S. effort is due to the perception that this is a conventional war with a clearly marked front line and territory to capture.

Tax cuts promoted

Before leaving for a weekend at Camp David, Bush called on Congress to approve tax cuts he has proposed to reinvigorate a slumping economy further hurt by the Sept. 11 attacks.

“It’s clear that our economy has been shocked,” Bush said. “There’s been shock waves sent throughout all parts of our nation’s economic fabric.”

While the federal government already has increased spending to aid the economy, including $40 billion in emergency relief spending and $15 billion in aid to the airline industry, it now needs to reduce taxes, particularly on businesses, to keep the economy afloat, Bush said.

“Tax relief arrives quickly,” Bush said. “Tax relief will put money rapidly into the hands of consumers. Tax relief will improve incentives to save and invest and will give a powerful boost to our national economy.”