Posted on: Thursday, November 15, 2001

Editorial
Food, diplomatic work become critical

With the fall of Kabul and the collapse of the Taliban as an agency of control, the first priority in Afghanistan — clearly — is to rush humanitarian supplies to a suffering people.

But close behind, and equally as important, is the dicey diplomatic task of getting a new government installed. This cannot be the work of the United States alone.

On the ground, the Northern Alliance is roughly in charge. But it is not, and should not, be a government.

The United States is in league with the Northern Alliance at the moment, but it is a marriage of convenience. Far too many Afghans remember the violence and chaos that ensued when the various elements of the coalition were in charge and fighting each other.

The only hope for Afghanistan is some form of coalition government, pulled together through the auspices of the United Nations. Even as the work of feeding and clothing the people of Afghanistan goes forward, the diplomatic effort to create a stable government must not be slighted.

It is imperative that the United Nations convene a meeting of the various factions as quickly as possible — this week if it can be arranged. Call it an interim authority, if need be, but get a government of some kind in place before the cycle of violence and recrimination begins again.

In fact, the humanitarian work and government-building work can go hand-in-hand. Immediate relief on a broad and generous scale would signal to the people of Afghanistan that this is not a war against them, but against terror and those who support it.

And remind them that the war is far from over.