In War on Terrorism, Unseen Fronts May Be Crucial 㰀䈀刀㸀ഀ
By Thomas E. Ricks and Steven Mufson 㰀倀㸀䄀猀 琀栀攀 戀甀椀氀搀甀瀀 漀昀 唀⸀匀⸀ 昀漀爀挀攀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 倀攀爀猀椀愀渀 䜀甀氀昀 爀攀最椀漀渀 最愀琀栀攀爀猀 猀琀攀愀洀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 ഀ
Bush administration is pursuing its war on terrorism along less traditional 昀爀漀渀琀猀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀Ⰰ 洀漀瘀椀渀最 琀漀 昀爀攀攀稀攀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀猀✀ 愀猀猀攀琀猀Ⰰ 瀀爀攀猀猀甀爀椀渀最 琀栀攀椀爀 猀琀愀琀攀 ഀ
supporters through diplomacy and putting in motion covert operations against 琀栀攀椀爀 渀攀琀眀漀爀欀猀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
The visible military operations and the other, less observable, actions 瀀爀漀洀椀猀攀 琀漀 戀攀 琀栀攀 琀眀漀 猀椀搀攀猀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 眀愀爀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 眀椀氀氀 洀愀欀攀 椀琀 氀攀猀猀 氀椀欀攀 琀爀愀搀椀琀椀漀渀愀氀 ഀ
wars the United States has fought and, in many respects, more like the war 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 搀爀甀最猀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀渀琀爀礀 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 瀀甀爀猀甀椀渀最 昀漀爀 愀琀 氀攀愀猀琀 琀眀漀 搀攀挀愀搀攀猀Ⰰ ഀ
military experts said.
Washington Post Staff 圀爀椀琀攀爀猀㰀䈀刀㸀匀甀渀搀愀礀Ⰰ 匀攀瀀琀攀洀戀攀爀 ㈀㌀Ⰰ ㈀ 㬀 倀愀最攀 䄀 ㌀ 㰀⼀䘀伀一吀㸀ഀ
"Nobody believes that the way to fight the war on drugs is to concentrate on 琀栀攀 栀愀瀀氀攀猀猀 洀甀氀攀 眀栀漀 挀愀爀爀椀攀猀 挀漀挀愀椀渀攀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 愀渀 愀椀爀瀀漀爀琀Ⰰ∀ 猀愀椀搀 刀椀挀栀愀爀搀 倀攀爀氀攀Ⰰ 愀 ഀ policy strategist in the Pentagon during the Reagan administration. Likewise, he 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 椀渀 琀栀攀 眀愀爀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀洀 ∀礀漀甀 最漀 愀昀琀攀爀 琀栀攀 猀漀甀爀挀攀⸀ 夀漀甀 最漀 愀昀琀攀爀 琀栀攀 ഀ producers, the big fish. And the equivalent of the producers, the drug lords, 愀爀攀 渀漀琀 琀栀攀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀猀 戀甀琀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀渀琀爀椀攀猀 琀栀愀琀 栀愀爀戀漀爀 琀栀攀洀⸀∀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
President Bush has made clear that the administration's initial focus will 氀椀欀攀氀礀 戀攀 愀挀挀甀猀攀搀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀 洀愀猀琀攀爀洀椀渀搀 伀猀愀洀愀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀⸀ 䈀甀琀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀琀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀琀 ഀ target in this war – what military theorists call the enemy's "center of 最爀愀瘀椀琀礀∀ ጀ†挀漀甀氀搀 瀀爀漀瘀攀 琀漀 戀攀 琀栀攀 最漀瘀攀爀渀洀攀渀琀猀 琀栀愀琀 最椀瘀攀 猀愀渀挀琀甀愀爀礀 琀漀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀猀Ⰰ ഀ rather than the terrorists themselves, specialists in military planning 猀愀椀搀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
There is every indication that the war will start – or has started – in 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀Ⰰ 眀栀攀爀攀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀 栀愀猀 戀愀猀攀搀 栀椀猀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀椀漀渀猀 猀椀渀挀攀 㤀㤀㘀⸀ 䄀氀琀栀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 ഀ Pentagon refuses to comment on covert operations, there were rumblings in the 䐀攀昀攀渀猀攀 䐀攀瀀愀爀琀洀攀渀琀 氀愀猀琀 眀攀攀欀 琀栀愀琀 愀 挀漀甀渀琀攀爀漀昀昀攀渀猀椀瘀攀 眀愀猀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 甀渀搀攀爀 眀愀礀⸀ ഀ Indeed, the Taliban militia claimed yesterday to have shot down an unmanned U.S. 爀攀挀漀渀渀愀椀猀猀愀渀挀攀 搀爀漀渀攀 漀瘀攀爀 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀⸀ 吀栀攀 倀攀渀琀愀最漀渀 栀愀搀 渀漀 挀漀洀洀攀渀琀 漀渀 琀栀攀 ഀ report.
㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 洀椀氀椀琀愀爀礀 愀挀琀椀漀渀 椀渀 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀Ⰰ 戀漀琀栀 挀漀瘀攀爀琀 愀渀搀 漀瘀攀爀琀Ⰰ 椀猀 氀椀欀攀氀礀 琀漀 爀攀氀礀 ഀ heavily on intelligence and operations by U.S. Special Forces. "This is the most 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀ⴀ椀渀琀攀渀猀椀瘀攀 眀愀爀 礀漀甀 挀愀渀 椀洀愀最椀渀攀Ⰰ∀ 漀渀攀 䐀攀昀攀渀猀攀 䐀攀瀀愀爀琀洀攀渀琀 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀 ഀ said. "I think it is going to put us to the test in many ways."㰀倀㸀䤀昀 琀栀攀 倀攀爀猀椀愀渀 䜀甀氀昀 圀愀爀 眀愀猀 洀漀爀攀 氀椀欀攀 昀漀漀琀戀愀氀氀Ⰰ 眀椀琀栀 椀琀猀 氀攀渀最琀栀礀 戀甀椀氀搀甀瀀 愀渀搀 ഀ diagrammed maneuvers, this war likely will resemble soccer, with its fluidity 愀渀搀 椀洀瀀爀漀瘀椀猀愀琀椀漀渀⸀ 䤀琀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀 搀椀昀昀椀挀甀氀琀 猀漀爀琀 漀昀 眀愀爀 琀漀 挀漀洀洀愀渀搀Ⰰ 攀砀攀挀甀琀攀 愀渀搀 ഀ analyze, military experts predict. "It is going to require a different 洀椀渀搀ⴀ猀攀琀Ⰰ∀ 猀愀椀搀 漀渀攀 漀昀昀椀挀攀爀 椀渀瘀漀氀瘀攀搀 椀渀 瀀氀愀渀渀椀渀最 昀漀爀 椀琀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀOfficials say that although there eventually could be military action in 瀀氀愀挀攀猀 漀琀栀攀爀 琀栀愀渀 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 愀搀洀椀渀椀猀琀爀愀琀椀漀渀 栀愀猀 礀攀琀 琀漀 搀攀挀椀搀攀 漀渀 琀栀漀猀攀 ഀ plans. To give the Pentagon more flexibility, however, the administration has 搀攀瀀氀漀礀攀搀 愀椀爀挀爀愀昀琀 挀愀爀爀椀攀爀猀Ⰰ 愀 䴀愀爀椀渀攀 攀砀瀀攀搀椀琀椀漀渀愀爀礀 甀渀椀琀 愀渀搀 猀挀漀爀攀猀 漀昀 眀愀爀瀀氀愀渀攀猀 ഀ to the region. In an unprecedented move, some aircraft are being sent to 唀稀戀攀欀椀猀琀愀渀 愀渀搀 吀愀樀椀欀椀猀琀愀渀Ⰰ 琀眀漀 漀昀 琀栀攀 昀漀爀洀攀爀 匀漀瘀椀攀琀 爀攀瀀甀戀氀椀挀猀 椀渀 䌀攀渀琀爀愀氀 ഀ Asia.
㰀倀㸀䤀昀 琀栀攀 洀椀氀椀琀愀爀礀 挀漀洀瀀漀渀攀渀琀 椀渀 琀栀攀 愀搀洀椀渀椀猀琀爀愀琀椀漀渀✀猀 眀愀爀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀洀 椀猀 ഀ only half the battle, the other half will include financial, economic, law 攀渀昀漀爀挀攀洀攀渀琀Ⰰ 搀漀洀攀猀琀椀挀 猀攀挀甀爀椀琀礀Ⰰ 搀椀瀀氀漀洀愀琀椀挀 愀渀搀 椀渀琀攀氀氀椀最攀渀挀攀 攀氀攀洀攀渀琀猀Ⰰ 漀昀昀椀挀椀愀氀猀 ഀ said. And their desired effect will be psychological as well as tactical.㰀倀㸀∀一漀眀 眀攀 栀愀瘀攀 愀 挀氀攀愀爀 攀渀攀洀礀 眀栀漀 椀猀 渀漀琀 漀渀氀礀 琀爀礀椀渀最 琀漀 搀漀 甀猀 最爀攀愀琀 搀愀洀愀最攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 ഀ is also trying to terrorize us . . . to paralyze us by terrorizing us," said 刀漀戀攀爀琀 䈀⸀ 娀漀攀氀氀椀挀欀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 唀⸀匀⸀ 琀爀愀搀攀 爀攀瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀愀琀椀瘀攀 眀栀漀 眀愀猀 愀 猀攀渀椀漀爀 愀椀搀攀 琀漀 ഀ Secretary of State James A. Baker III during the Gulf War. "Our response has to 挀漀甀渀琀攀爀 昀攀愀爀 愀渀搀 瀀愀渀椀挀⸀∀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀHere is how some facets of the struggle are taking shape:
㰀倀㸀伀渀 琀栀攀 搀椀瀀氀漀洀愀琀椀挀 昀爀漀渀琀Ⰰ 匀攀挀爀攀琀愀爀礀 漀昀 匀琀愀琀攀 䌀漀氀椀渀 䰀⸀ 倀漀眀攀氀氀 栀愀猀 爀攀愀挀栀攀搀 漀甀琀 ഀ to European allies, Arab nations, China and Russia in an effort to isolate 䄀昀最栀愀渀椀猀琀愀渀 愀渀搀 洀愀欀攀 椀琀 搀椀昀昀椀挀甀氀琀 昀漀爀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀 琀漀 昀椀渀搀 爀攀昀甀最攀⸀ 吀栀攀 唀渀椀琀攀搀 䄀爀愀戀 ഀ Emirates severed relations with the Taliban, and Iran and Pakistan sealed their 戀漀爀搀攀爀猀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀPowell has also reached out to sometime foes – such as Syria and Iran – 甀爀最椀渀最 琀栀攀洀 琀漀 愀戀愀渀搀漀渀 琀栀攀椀爀 瀀愀猀琀 瀀漀氀椀挀椀攀猀 漀昀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀椀渀最 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀 最爀漀甀瀀猀⸀ 圀栀椀氀攀 ഀ asserting that they had no illusions about the chances for such changes, Powell 愀渀搀 䈀甀猀栀 栀愀瘀攀 椀渀搀椀挀愀琀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 琀眀漀 挀漀甀渀琀爀椀攀猀 琀栀愀琀 渀漀眀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 愀 挀栀愀渀挀攀 昀漀爀 愀 ഀ new start.
㰀倀㸀伀渀 琀栀攀 攀挀漀渀漀洀椀挀 昀爀漀渀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 愀搀洀椀渀椀猀琀爀愀琀椀漀渀 栀愀猀 猀漀甀最栀琀 琀漀 甀猀攀 琀爀愀搀攀 愀渀搀 愀椀搀 琀漀 ഀ offer incentives to wavering nations and assurance to friends. It moved last 眀攀攀欀 琀漀 氀椀昀琀 唀⸀匀⸀ 猀愀渀挀琀椀漀渀猀 漀渀 倀愀欀椀猀琀愀渀 琀栀愀琀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 椀洀瀀漀猀攀搀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 漀昀 ഀ displeasure with Islamabad's nuclear weapons program. And it held out the 瀀漀猀猀椀戀椀氀椀琀礀 漀昀 琀栀爀漀眀椀渀最 唀⸀匀⸀ 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 琀栀攀 爀攀猀挀栀攀搀甀氀椀渀最 漀昀 琀愀氀欀猀 琀栀愀琀 眀攀爀攀 ഀ already moving forward on Pakistan's more than $30 billion in debt if it 眀椀琀栀搀爀愀眀猀 椀琀猀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 吀愀氀椀戀愀渀 愀渀搀 栀攀氀瀀猀 琀栀攀 唀⸀匀⸀ 眀愀爀 攀昀昀漀爀琀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀThe administration also bolstered trade ties with Indonesia, the world's 氀愀爀最攀猀琀 䴀甀猀氀椀洀 渀愀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 眀栀漀猀攀 瀀爀攀猀椀搀攀渀琀Ⰰ 䴀攀最愀眀愀琀椀 匀甀欀愀爀渀漀瀀甀琀爀椀Ⰰ 洀愀搀攀 愀 瀀爀攀瘀椀漀甀猀氀礀 ഀ scheduled visit to Washington to see Bush. Indonesia, a moderate Muslim country, 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 甀猀攀搀 愀猀 愀 戀愀猀攀 戀礀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀 渀攀琀眀漀爀欀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀愀猀琀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
On the financial front, the United States is looking for help from Europe, 眀栀攀爀攀 洀愀渀礀 漀昀 琀栀攀 栀椀樀愀挀欀攀爀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 匀攀瀀琀⸀ 猀甀椀挀椀搀攀 愀琀琀愀挀欀猀 漀渀 一攀眀 夀漀爀欀 愀渀搀 ഀ Washington had lived, schooled or transited on their way to the United States. 匀攀瘀攀爀愀氀 䔀甀爀漀瀀攀愀渀 愀氀氀椀攀猀Ⰰ 椀渀挀氀甀搀椀渀最 䈀爀椀琀愀椀渀Ⰰ 䤀琀愀氀礀Ⰰ 䜀攀爀洀愀渀礀 愀渀搀 匀瀀愀椀渀Ⰰ 栀愀瘀攀 ഀ seized bank accounts suspected of being linked to bin Laden or other terrorist 漀爀最愀渀椀稀愀琀椀漀渀猀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀ
Bush is expected to take the next step Monday by signing an executive order 搀攀猀椀最渀愀琀椀渀最 猀漀洀攀 椀渀搀椀瘀椀搀甀愀氀猀 愀渀搀 最爀漀甀瀀猀 愀猀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀 愀渀搀 昀爀攀攀稀椀渀最 琀栀攀椀爀 ഀ assets.
㰀倀㸀吀栀攀 愀搀洀椀渀椀猀琀爀愀琀椀漀渀 椀猀 愀氀猀漀 琀爀礀椀渀最 琀漀 最攀琀 戀攀琀琀攀爀 椀渀琀攀氀氀椀最攀渀挀攀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 漀渀 ഀ the bin Laden network. China agreed to send an interagency group of 挀漀甀渀琀攀爀琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀洀 攀砀瀀攀爀琀猀 琀漀 猀栀愀爀攀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀⸀ 吀栀攀 愀搀洀椀渀椀猀琀爀愀琀椀漀渀 椀猀 愀氀猀漀 ഀ pressuring Pakistan, which is considered the country with the best intelligence 漀渀 琀栀攀 吀愀氀椀戀愀渀 愀渀搀 戀椀渀 䰀愀搀攀渀Ⰰ 琀漀 挀漀漀瀀攀爀愀琀攀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀCountries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and the Persian Gulf states – 栀漀洀攀 琀漀 昀椀渀愀渀挀椀愀氀 戀愀挀欀攀爀猀 愀渀搀 爀攀挀爀甀椀琀猀 昀漀爀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀琀 渀攀琀眀漀爀欀猀 ጀ†挀漀甀氀搀 愀氀猀漀 ഀ provide useful information to the United States. Some of those countries, such 愀猀 匀愀甀搀椀 䄀爀愀戀椀愀 愀渀搀 夀攀洀攀渀Ⰰ 栀愀瘀攀 渀漀琀 戀攀攀渀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀氀礀 昀漀爀琀栀挀漀洀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀愀猀琀Ⰰ ഀ some U.S. officials say. Saudi Arabia pledged its support in the investigation 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 洀漀渀琀栀✀猀 愀琀琀愀挀欀猀 愀渀搀 栀愀猀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 搀攀氀椀瘀攀爀攀搀 搀漀猀猀椀攀爀猀 漀渀 猀漀洀攀 椀渀搀椀瘀椀搀甀愀氀猀 ഀ as requested by the FBI.
㰀倀㸀䤀琀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 搀椀昀昀椀挀甀氀琀 琀漀 洀攀愀猀甀爀攀 琀栀攀 猀甀挀挀攀猀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀猀攀 搀椀昀昀攀爀攀渀琀 愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀攀猀⸀ ഀ And it is likely to be equally difficult to tell when the war is over.㰀倀㸀䄀猀欀攀搀 琀漀 搀攀昀椀渀攀 ∀瘀椀挀琀漀爀礀∀ 椀渀 琀栀攀 眀愀爀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀攀爀爀漀爀椀猀洀 氀愀猀琀 眀攀攀欀Ⰰ 䐀攀昀攀渀猀攀 ഀ Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld had difficulty coming up with a concise answer. 䄀昀琀攀爀 㔀 眀漀爀搀猀 漀昀 栀漀瘀攀爀椀渀最Ⰰ 栀攀 氀愀渀搀攀搀 漀渀 栀椀猀 搀攀昀椀渀椀琀椀漀渀⸀ ∀䤀 猀愀礀 琀栀愀琀 瘀椀挀琀漀爀礀 椀猀 ഀ persuading the American people and the rest of the world that this is not a 焀甀椀挀欀 洀愀琀琀攀爀 琀栀愀琀 椀猀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 戀攀 漀瘀攀爀 椀渀 愀 洀漀渀琀栀 漀爀 愀 礀攀愀爀 漀爀 攀瘀攀渀 昀椀瘀攀 礀攀愀爀猀Ⰰ∀ ഀ he said.㰀倀㸀䴀挀䌀愀昀昀爀攀礀Ⰰ 愀 瘀攀琀攀爀愀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 嘀椀攀琀渀愀洀 圀愀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 䜀甀氀昀 圀愀爀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 搀爀甀最 眀愀爀Ⰰ 猀愀椀搀 ഀ the answer was probably more like New York City's successful war on crime. "At 琀栀攀 攀渀搀 漀昀 琀栀攀 搀愀礀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 愀猀欀 愀 洀漀洀 眀栀攀琀栀攀爀 猀栀攀 昀攀攀氀猀 猀愀昀攀 最漀椀渀最 漀甀琀 眀椀琀栀 ഀ her children," he said. "If she answers no, then you haven't done the job.㰀倀㸀ഀ