U.S. gearing for 'final push'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, NOV. 4. As the military campaign against Afghanistan entered its fifth week, the U.S. is gearing itself to assist the Northern Alliance in a massive fashion as the Opposition forces are supposed to be getting ready for their final push against the Taliban in such key areas as Mazar-e-Sharif.

The Bush administration has not officially responded to the Northern Alliance's claims that several hundred Taliban fighters have crossed over. Routinely, the Taliban denies these assertions and Washington refrains from making a comment saying independent verification cannot be made.

`Second wave of attacks'

With the anthrax scare continuing, the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, has labelled the mail scare the ``second wave of terror attacks'' while urging Americans to be patient in the campaign against Afghanistan, the Taliban, Osama bin Laden and his cohorts.

The anthrax attacks have claimed four lives so far and the administration has been criticised for its slow response. ``As we learn more about these anthrax attacks, the Government will share the confirmed and credible information we have with you,'' Mr. Bush said.

`Osama isolated'

The White House spokesperson, Ms. Anne Womack, brushed aside the latest video-clip from Osama bin Laden and his sharp criticism of the U.S., the United Nations and the Arab World. ``This is more propaganda that shows how isolated Osama bin Laden is from the rest of the world.''

From a military point of view, the Bush administration has been making it known that there is no fixed time-limit for the operation in Afghanistan. Mr. Bush and his top Cabinet officials have repeatedly said there would be no pause for Ramadan that starts in the next 10 days.

There is some evidence that a political framework is slowly beginning to emerge, with the U.S. and the U.N. playing a very active behind-the-scenes role. The idea from the very beginning is to have the former King Zahir Shah lead some kind of a representative Government that could include some elements of the Taliban. The Northern Alliance at first objected to this, but is now said to be veering around to the idea.

The Bush administration which at one time called for a role for the `moderate' Taliban elements in a future set-up in Afghanistan is now qualifying its position. From focussing on the existing `moderate' Taliban leadership, Washington now seems to be harping on the ``rank and file''.

In an interview, the U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Mr. Richard Haass, in a reference to the Taliban leadership said, ``I think they are illegitimate or discredited. But I would not rule out the possibility that rank and file Afghans ... might have a potential place in the future of Afghanistan''.

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Section  : International
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