Posted on: Saturday, November 24, 2001

Terror, anthrax: War isn't over yet

Suddenly, top government officials who once spoke in guarded and uncertain tones about the war against terrorism are barely holding back their glee.

The Taliban's control of Afghanistan has crumbled. Eight international relief workers who could have been exploited as war hostages are free. There's a decline in anthrax scares.

By all indications, it seems as though the worst is over and we can move forward with holiday travel and shopping plans and stop regarding the mailbox with suspicion.

But some of the constraints that emerged in the wake of 9-11 are here to stay, like airport security.

The war isn't over yet.

Even Hawai'i's dengue fever outbreak requires that we in Hawai'i continue a community-wide assault on mosquito breeding places. This war isn't over, either.