8 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, December 7, 2001 NATION/ VORLD War close to end, but scope of victory still unclear Ln An"Il Tim Los ngeesimes WASHINGTON - In the unfolding final acts of the war in Afghanistan, it suddenly appears that victory could bring the United States most - yet not quite all - of what it wanted when U.S. warplanes began dropping bombs two months ago. The Taliban regime that was accused of har- boring terrorists who attacked the United States on Sept. 11 seems ready to make a break from the al-Qaida terror network and cede its last stronghold of Kandahar. As opposition fighters encircle the mountain refuges of Osama bin Laden northeast of Kandahar, an interim government is beginning to take shape. But the successor administration in Afghanistan is signaling that it may give lenient treatment to Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, who the Bush administra- tion has vowed to bring to justice. Though the issue is not settled, amnesty or easy treatment of Omar could have a variety of unwanted and long-lasting consequences for the United States. And no matter how it is decided, it underscores that for all the weapons, troops and billions in promised aid it has brought to Central Asia, the United States is not fully in control. The final decision on Omar's fate could mean domestic political fallout for President Bush, whose father has been trailed for a decade by accusations that he allowed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to escape justice at the end of the Persian Gulf war. It might open the way for Omar to some day rally former Taliban forces and try to seize power once more. But the move would be most serious if it meant that the new Afghan government also intends to go easy on bin Laden and his al- Qaida organization. Though most experts don't expect the incom- ing administration of Hamid Karzai to take that approach, such a move would bring a clash with the U.S. government. The Bush administration has vowed to see the terrorists dead or behind bars, and because of the Sept. 11 bombing, views this issue as non-negotiable. "This is at least awkward," said Teresita Schaffer, a retired U.S. diplomat and expert on South Asia. "If they want to do the same with bin Laden, we've got a problem." Karzai said in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp. that there would be a gen- eral amnesty for all fighters willing to lay down their arms, and that Omar would be included if he condemned all terrorism worldwide. Clearly, for Karzai, leniency for Omar could help in a variety ways. Most immediately, it would help avoid a blood bath in Kandahar. Many Taliban fighters there have vowed to battle to the end if they are not shown the leniency often shown foes in Afghanistan. It would assist him in winning acceptance as the country's new leader from countrymen who have been loosely, but not devoutly, affiliated with the Taliban. And not least, it would enable Karzai to put some distance between himself and the United States. The Pashtun tribal chief cannot afford to appear entirely a creature of the Americans if he is to broaden his appeal to Afghanistan's diverse ethnic groups. Still, experts point out that even if Omar is given easy treatment, the United States appears to be accomplishing most of its aims. Its first goal regarding the Taliban was to top- ple the regime, they say, to send a message to governments around the world that those who support terrorists can be stripped of power. "The most important lesson for the Taliban was not that people will be killed for this, but that if you do it, your regime will be gone," said Ivo Daalder, a Brookings Institution schol- ar. "That's the lesson we have taught them, and that we'd like others to realize." Some experts say that the United States might in some ways be better off if it allowed the new Afghan government to handle Omar's case. That could avoid a politically charged trial on charges that some experts believe could be difficult to formulate. And some analysts predict that if Omar is turned over to the Afghan justice system, Afghan officials who lived unhappily under the Taliban could compile a list of charges that might keep him out of circulation for a long time. Ashcroft, under criticism, denies civil rights violations WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General John Ashcroft, defending administration measures to counteract terrorism, declared yesterday the nation must not let down its guard against threats that present "a daily chronicle of the hatred of Americans by fanatics." Holding aloft an al-Qaida terrorism manual, Ashcroft told the Senate Judi- ciary Committee: "We are at war with an enemy that abuses individual rights as it abuses jetliners ... Defending our nation and its citizens against terrorist attacks is now our first law enforce- ment priority." Ashcroft's appearance came in an atmosphere of mounting criticism by Senate Democrats that the Justice Department moved too far, too quick- ly, to implement a host of stern inves- tigative measures in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Ashcroft chided critics of the vari- ous measures, including the govern- ment's detention and questioning of hundreds of Middle Eastern men. He said critics are uninformed. "Charges of kangaroo courts and shredding the Constitution give new meaning to the term 'the fog of war,"' he said. "Each action taken by the Depart- ment of Justice as well as the war crimes commission ... is carefully drawn to cover a narrow class of indi- viduals -terrorists," Ashcroft declared. On the 87th day since the attack, Ashcroft told lawmakers he received chilling daily intelligence reports. "My day begins with a review of the threats to Americans and American interests," Ashcroft said. "If ever there were proof of evil in the world it is in these reports. "They are a chilling daily chronicle of the hatred of Americans by fanatics, who seek to extinguish freedom, enslava women, corrupt education, and to kill Americans wherever and whenever they can." The committee chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said the govern- ment needs a good reason to snoop into bank records, tax returns and e-mails. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) coun- tered: "Let's keep our focus on where it matters - protecting U.S. citizens." Leahy said the president was taking a risk by acting without Congress to establish a tribunal system that might not survive Supreme Court scrutiny. "It is a calculated risk that the Supreme Court will uphold something it has not upheld before," Leahy said. Ashcroft replied that Bush has an "inherent authority and power" to prosecute war crimes. Attorney General John Ashcroft testifies yesterday before the Senate Judiciary Pommittee. Defending against terror, he said, "is our first law enforcement priority." NATO pledges cooperation to combat terrorism The Washington Post BRUSSELS, Belgium - The 19 members of NATO issued a sweeping pledge yesterday to fight all forms of terrorism "for as long as necessary" by developing new defense capa- bilities and strengthening strategic coordina- tion among themselves and with other blocs. In a communique issued by NATO's North Atlantic Council, foreign ministers vowed to "enhance alliance military capabilities" and deepen relations with other states and interna- tional organizations to ensure appropriate action is taken more effectively to confront terrorist threats. Secretary of State Colin Powell praised NATO's growing role in fighting terrorism since the Sept. 11 attacks. "This unflinching decision, and the critical assistance this alliance has provided, has sent a clear message to our enemies about the depth of our common pur- pose," Powell told a news conference on the first of two days of talks with his counterparts. In announcing the agreement, NATO Secre- tary-General Lord Robertson said the world had to have "zero tolerance" for global terror- ism. He said NATO's new task will be "a pro- longed - and demanding commitment. But NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson, Italian Prime Minister Renato Ruggiero and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell meet yesterday at NATO headquarters in Brussels. NATO has always been ready for the long haul. "The threats have changed but our resilience and relevance have not," Robertson told another news conference at NATO headquarters. In unusually strong language,. NATO declared there is "no justification whatsoever" for terrorist actions and said the world's mighti- est military alliance is "determined to combat this scourge. Our security requires no less." The statement took pains to add, however, that its fight against terrorism is "not against Islam," but against extremists, their networks and those who harbor them. NATO specifically called for improving individual and collective capabilities to pro- tect member populations from attack, particu- larly from weapons of mass destruction. It also pledged to enhance cooperation against terrorism with the countries in Partners for Peace, which includes many of the former Soviet countries. Defense ministers scheduled to meet here next week are expected to follow up with dis- cussions of specific steps NATO members can take, with a full package of measures prepared - for agreement by the NATO summit in Prague, Czech Republic, next year, Robertson said. NATO also gave open-ended and unquali- - AFG HAN ISTA Continued from Page 1A fighters. Instead it reported some' iban personnel as saying that theyv following the orders of Omar. Until the surrender deal was cut terday, Omar had ordered his me defend Kandahar to the death. However, the Taliban reversed hardline position after top oppos: tribal leader, Hamid Karzai, agree a guarantee Omar's safety if the period. denounced terrorism. Karzai, who is to head Afghanis new interim government, also sai would grant a general amnest Afghan Taliban fighters who surren Washington has accused Oma protecting Osama bin Laden and teirorist al-Qaida group, who blamed for the September terr attacks in the United States. The Un States has made it clear that it will accept a deal that allows Omar; ingress. other top Taliban leaders to go free. Omar has made no public staten fied support to the U.S. campaign in Afghanistan. "We have decided to support, individually and collectively, the ongoing U.S.-led military operations - until it has reached its objectives," the communique said. In his own speech to NATO, given behind closed doors, Powell cautioned that recent military gains did not mean the Afghan oper- ation would soon end. "Don't stand down. There's a lot more to be done," Powell told his NATO colleagues: "Every ounce of support is necessary - and may be needed in the future." The secretary also tried to smooth ruffled feathers among some NATO allies miffed by the U.S. decision not to deploy their forces in Afghanistan after governments went out on a limb to offer significant contributions. "The circumstances of this campaign mean that not every ally is fighting, but every ally is in the fight," Powell told his counterparts. In a separate action, NATO also announced a new formula to loosely embrace Russia in NATO, based on a "new quality" in relations between Moscow and the Western alliance and Russia's response in large part due to its role since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. N in regards to the surrender agreement and Karzai has said that he does not know the whereabouts of Omar or bin Tal- Laden. The murky surrender pact made were no mention of bin Laden and left unclear the fate of hundreds of Arabs, yes- Pakistanis, Chechens and other foreign n to fighters in al-Qaida. a After briefing members of the Senate their on the situation in Afghanistan, ition Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld d to was asked whether the United States he would insist on U.S. justice or would agree to let an international tribunal tan's deal with Omar. d he "We would prefer to have Omar," y to Rumsfeld replied. He said "There's still der. a good deal of confusion" surrounding r of the surrender. I his In Washington, U.S. officials said are al-Qaida fighters are believed operat- orist ing from five to 10 cave complexes at nited Tora Bora in the White Mountains 1 not south of Jalalabad. Officials suspect and bin Laden is in that area but also are on alert for his presence in the south ment around Kandahar. Military vs. media: A conflict renewed FORWARD MARINE BASE, Afghanistan - Late Wednesday evening, a Marine spokesman approached reporters preparing to leave the Marine base in Afghanistan known as Camp Rhino and announced that American servicemen injured near Kandahar were at that very moment arriving and being treated less than 100 feet away. Another Marine spokesman read aloud from his computer a Defense Department news release about a "friendly fire"incident in which a U.S. B- 52 bomber had dropped ordnance near Americans and Afghan anti-Taliban forces, inflicting dozens of casualties. The journalists, confined to a ware- house, sprang to their feet. Could a photographer take pictures of the wounded arriving? No. Could print reporters just stand to the side and observe? No. Could reporters talk to Marine pilots who had airlifted the wounded to the base? No. Could they talk to doctors after they finished treating the wounded? No. Could they talk to injured Afghan fighters who also had been transported to the base? None spoke English. No. The spokesmen eventually relented after reporters protested long and vigor- ously, even leading them on a stumbling run in pitch darkness to an airstrip where the bodies of two Americans who had been killed were said to be arriving in a helicopter. But the bodies were already in a morgue, which reporters were not permitted to visit In every war, there is an innate ten- sion between the military and the jour- nalists who want to cover battles up close and capture the poignant and horrific reality of combat. With Amer- ican troops in southern Afghanistan, however, reporters have operated under limitations even more restrictive than those imposed on pools during Desert Storm in 1991, when reporters traveling with troops had their stories read and cleared by military escorts. In Washington, Victoria Clarke, assistant secretary of defense for pub- lic affairs and the Pentagon's primary spokeswoman, issued a memo to-news organizations yesterday saying "we owe you an apology"for the "severe shortcomings" in the way Pentagon has handled the news media. She pledged that "we intend to provide maximum media coverage with mini- mal delay and hassle." Also, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he was "committed to the principle that the media should have access to both the good and the bad in this effort."Those responsible for having kept the reporters out of sight of the casualties, he said, "acknowledged that they have not handled the matter per- fectly, and they're in the process of reviewing their procedures." The incident in Afghanistan pro- voked an outcry in part because it came after seven weeks of unusually tight control of information by the Pentagon. In other conflicts, such as the Gulf War, the Vietnam War, the ' Korean War and World War II, reporters have been permitted to "embed"with military units and cover their daily operations. But that has not been in the case in this war. For exam- ple, more than 1,000 regular infantry troops from the Army's 10th Mountain Division have been in Uzbekistan for nearly two months, and in Afghanistan for at least two weeks, but no reporters have been allowed to cover them. 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