Strengthen front on terror

As the war on terror moves into its eighth year the focus rightly remains on al-Qaida and related terrorist organizations that champion the use of large-scale attacks against Western societies and have the capacity to carry out their aims. These groups have found a friendly base of operations among the fundamentalist tribes in Afghanistan and bordering areas of Pakistan, but the tribes are not al-Qaida.

Fighting the tribes has stretched current U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, undermined the economic resources available for helping Afghan villages to switch from opium production to other crops and weakened the political ties between the Afghan government and the country's many tribes. It has also strained ties between Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan.

So it is encouraging to hear U.S. and Afghan officials address the need for a new approach in Afghanistan. This week, Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said he has asked Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to arrange talks between his government and the Taliban that would allow hunted leader Mullah Mohammed Omar to return home in peace.

The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Gen. David McKiernan, did not disagree with the move. He told reporters, "Ultimately, the solution in Afghanistan is going to be a political solution, not a military solution."

At the same time, Gen. McKiernan said it was necessary for the United States and NATO to increase their military strength in Afghanistan to counter a surge in al-Qaida-backed foreign fighters who have helped a resurgent Taliban regain control over large parts of the country. He warned that it would be some time before the Afghan central government and the Afghan army will be up to the task of providing security.

The Afghan government floated another idea this week that gained Gen. McKiernan's support. Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak proposed a joint force of Afghan, Pakistani and U.S. forces to secure the Afghan-Pakistan border area. The general said such a force could address "mutual border security concerns." The proposal deserves strong support in Washington and in Pakistan.

Gen. McKiernan told reporters he needs substantial reinforcements. Most of the manpower would come from the United States. But NATO countries should supply added helicopter and other specialized units. On Tuesday, 12 NATO countries signed an agreement to jointly buy and operate three huge C-17 cargo aircraft to support the mission in Afghanistan, the Canadian Press reported.

"We're in a very tough fight," the general said.

The new plan should explore every angle for improving the odds of success.