To all the folks who have been yelling “quagmire” and deprecating the US bombing campaign (as well as the Northern Alliance military abilities): Neener–neener.
The war in Afghanistan — let alone against terrorism — is by no means over. But clearly it is not being lost, either.
I also find it interesting that I’ve heard very little coverage about either Vaclav Havel or Nelson Mandella’s remarks in support of the US war effort.
It is now time for me, as one of the many Heads of States throughout the world, to express my absolute support for this operation. Preparations have been underway for a long time and have been well thought out. This is not an attack on Afghanistan or on Islam, neither is it an attack on any one nation or any one religion. It is protecting the values of civilization which connect many religions, cultures and countries, just as they connect the entire world. If we want the pleasure of certain freedoms, if we want to make use of certain benefits which are offered by the age we are living in, if we want to take pleasure in living dignified lives, it is necessary that we must then be prepared to protect those values and rights – even militarily. [Havel, 7 October]
I also want to say that one of the reasons for coming here is to be able to express my support for the President for his action in Afghanistan. The United States of America lost 5,000 people, innocent people, and it is quite correct for the President to ensure that the terrorists, those masterminds, as well as those who have executed the action and survived, are to be punished heavily. And it would be disastrous if the President gave in to the call that the army must now withdraw, before he has actually flushed out the terrorists. That would be disaster. They will claim that they have defeated the United States of America, and they will continue doing the same thing. So I support him to continue until those terrorists have been tracked down. [Mandella, 12 November]
Of course, one might expect that conservative money-grubbing war-mongers like Havel and Mandella would say such things, but, really, it might at least be reported more widely, as proof of the international isolation the US is incurring for its actions.
(Via Matt Welch, USS Clueless, and InstaPundit)