Pakistan holds the key to bin Laden’s capture

If you’re wondering why this newspaper and others around the country are so preoccupied with the political developments in Pakistan, here’s a three-word explanation: Osama bin Laden. So long as the world’s leading terrorist and the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America’s soil remains at large, the war on global terrorism will not be won. That’s because bin Laden has become a symbol of invincibility to the millions of Islamic extremists who would do his bidding in a heartbeat.

And make no mistake about it: The United States and Americans abroad are bin Laden’s primary targets.

But his success in evading capture or death for the past seven years — and longer — makes it clear that the U.S. government does not have the wherewithal to conduct a solo operation against him. The reason is that bin Laden and members of his al-Qaida terrorist organization have found safe haven in the tribal areas of Pakistan along the country’s border with Afghanistan.

Campaign of violence

The tribal leaders are supportive of al-Qaida and the Taliban, which has launched a campaign of violence in Afghanistan against the democratically elected government of Hamid Karzai. Coalition forces led by the U.S. ousted the Taliban from the power and chased the leaders from the country.

There is no way the U.S., which is hated by many in that region, in large part because of its invasion of Iraq, can successfully launch a military campaign against al-Qaida and the Taliban to get to bin Laden.

It needs Pakistan. But while former President Pervez Musharraf was a dependable ally of President Bush’s and had publicly expressed his support for the war on global terrorism, the new president, Asif Ali Zardari, is still an unknown.

Zardari, widower of slain Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was overwhelmingly elected in the parliament and provincial assemblies last Saturday. He is pro-West and has said that he agrees with Bush’s goal of dismantling global terrorist cells and bringing bin Laden to justice.

But the Pakistani leader also must be careful not to anger the growing number of Islamic extremists in his country. There already are demands that the Muslim nation become a theocracy in the tradition of Iran under the ayatollahs.

Zardari must also find a way of appeasing the military, which has ruled Pakistan for most of its 61-year history.

And, he must deal with the economic storm that has swept the country. There has been food inflation, a high jobless rate and a currency that fell to its lowest level ever against the dollar.

Pakistan’s support of America’s war on global terrorism has cost the U.S. treasury at least $10 billion in aid. However, the money has been used to bolster the military rather than going toward upgrading the transportation system and getting rid of slum and blight.

But with all its firepower, Pakistan has been powerless against al-Qaida and the Taliban in the mountain region.

Selfish motive

Indeed, the freedom-loving nations of the world have a selfish motive in ensuring that the Zardari government has a long life. A takeover by Islamic extremists will mean nuclear weapons under the control of individuals who hate the U.S. and Hindu-dominated India.

There are dangerous times for the United States given bin Laden’s ability to remain at large and the fact that India and Pakistan have fought three wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

President Bush, who will leave office on Jan. 20, must stay focused on what is going on in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.

His successor, either Republican John McCain or Democrat Barack Obama, also must have a clear understanding of the reality on the ground.