Afghanistan calls

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's visit to Afghanistan should help refocus Americans' attention on our other war. It is attention that is very much needed.

There is no question that the far larger American-led effort in Iraq rightly has commanded more attention. It has been costlier in American blood and treasure, and arguably has far more importance to that region.

But Afghanistan, where the war on terror justifiably began, could be of more long-term strategic significance to the security interests of the United States. Al-Qaida, which attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, still operates in and around Afghanistan. If U.S. efforts to fight terrorism in the long term are to succeed, we will need the help of the people and government of Afghanistan. Those efforts currently are in danger.

For one, Pakistan, which had been a key U.S. ally in the war on terror, has become, for a number of reasons, a less reliable partner. Its new, but weakening central government is exercising less control over the frontier regions with Afghanistan than even the unpopular Pakistan government of Pervez Musharraf did. And while the war cannot be waged successfully in Afghanistan without neutralizing al-Qaida and the Taliban in Pakistan, what is happening within Afghanistan's borders will require more U.S. and NATO focus.

The government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai is in trouble. Critics contend it controls little of the country outside the capital, Kabul. And corruption is said to run rampant.

But even more important to U.S.-led efforts in Afghanistan are that nation's people. Given the state of the nation at the time U.S. and NATO forces entered it to attack al-Qaida and the Taliban in October 2001, allied rebuilding efforts there have been heroic, but far short of what will be necessary. One governor told Obama during his visit that what was most needed in his province are paved roads and other infrastructure.

The Karzai government also has been weakened by the number of accidental civilian deaths during NATO military operations. Just this weekend, at least 13 civilians were killed. This year alone, nearly 100 Afghan civilians have died as an unintended result of NATO attacks.

Both Obama and presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain have voiced concern about the war and rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan. It will need to be a larger part of the responsibilities of the one who assumes office in January 2009.