Today’s tragic events shine light on the resurgent terrorist movement in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. While the death of Ms. Bhutto is a blow to those that support democracy in the region, it is no surprise to those that have been following the events the past few months. The world should react to this tragedy by concentrating their efforts on defeating the Taliban once and for all.
While we foolishly diverted our attention and resources to Iraq, the Taliban have quietly been regrouping, waiting for the right moment to strike and today was their day of triumph. However, we are the ones that can gain from today by remembering who attacked the United States six years ago. Ms. Bhutto’s death can be a unifying event that can bring together a real coalition, not the flimsy group that was assembled to remove Saddam Hussein. The war against Al Qaeda is not over and we need to put our eyes back on the prize.
Let Iraq have their civil war. We need to permanently stop an organization that has repeatedly demonstrated that it is capable of carrying out successful attacks both there and here. President Bush, do what is right and shift troops from Iraq to Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is obvious that Musharraf is not the leader we thought he was. Instead of talking tough, let us take substantive measures that will force him to face the Taliban and beat them with his own army and resources with additional assistance from a U.S.-led battalion. The world can gain from Ms. Bhutto’s death. Let’s continue the movement that she started and defeat these thugs.
