How does bin Laden’s demise affect US-Afghanistan policy?

Nearly Ten years ago, when then-President George W. Bush launched the military invasion of Afghanistan by the U.S.-led coalition, the aim was to get the world’s leading terrorist, Osama bin Laden, dead or alive, destroy al-Qaida, his terrorist organization, and oust the Islamic extremist Taliban government.

The military campaign was triggered by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on America’s mainland masterminded by bin Laden. The terrorists were trained in al-Qaida camps in Afghanistan. About 3,000 people were killed when the terrorists hijacked commercial airlines and crashed them into the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.

Troops from the United States and its allies were successful in ousting the Taliban, but bin Laden and members of his inner circle escaped from Afghanistan into the remote mountain region of the border with Pakistan. He and his key associates had been cornered in Tora Bora with coalition forces moving in for the kill when President Bush ordered the redeployment of American soldiers to Iraq in 2003. Bin Laden had eluded capture or death since then.

But on Sunday, President Barack Obama ordered Navy Seals to raid a house in Abbottabad, Pakistan, that the Central Intelligence Agency and other sources had said was bin Laden’s hiding place. Late Sunday night, the president announced that the world’s leading terrorist had been killed.

But now, with the nation coming down from its high brought on by the successful conclusion of the 10-year search for that despicable human being, President Obama must answer this question to the satisfaction of all Americans: Is our continued presence in Afghanistan necessary?

The cost of the war is approaching half-billion dollars, while 1,400 American soldiers have been killed and 10,000 wounded. Obama has said he wants to begin drawing down troops starting in July, but a total withdrawal won’t occur until 2014.

However, with a democratically elected government in Kabul, with Afghans taking more responsibility for security in the country, and with Afghan soldiers fighting alongside the NATO-led coalition force, America’s mission needs to be clarified by the president.

Prime-time address

Obama should deliver a prime-time televised address to the nation to not only talk about bin Laden’s death, but more importantly to explain what effect, if any, this major development has on the mission in Afghanistan.

The president is no doubt aware that public support for the war has been waning, especially since the U.S. is also still involved in Iraq and has now joined other countries in backing the opposition to Libyan strongman Col. Moammar Gadhafi.

The ever-rising cost of these incursions have financially embattled Americans calling for a reassessment.

The three conflicts are taking a huge toll on this nation, and Obama must find a way to ease the concerns of the people.

He should also address the strained relationship with Pakistan, which has been a key ally in the fight against global terrorism, but is now being viewed with suspicion and even anger over bin Laden’s having lived in Abbottabad for six years.

What Americans must not forget is that Pakistan is a nuclear power with a government under attack by Islamic extremists, including those affiliated with al-Qaida. It would be foolhardy for the United States to cuts its ties with Pakistan, which would put the government of President Asif Ali Zardari on thin ice.

Pakistan with its nuclear arsenal would be a threat to the region if Islamic extremists took power. That cannot be allowed to happen.