The Pentagon ordered dozens of advanced aircraft, F-15s, F-16s and possibly B-1 bombers, to the Persian Gulf region on Wednesday as the hour of military retaliation for deadly terrorist attacks apparently drew closer.  The aircraft will follow the deployment of air traffic control teams. In addition, an aircraft carrier left Virginia en route to joining two other carriers in the region.  Presumably all of this firepower is destined to rain death and destruction down on Afghanistan, as Bush has declared that the targets of this new war on terrorism are not simply the terrorists, but also government's who harbor them.  Bush is scheduled to explain his proposed course of action to the nation tonight.  Here is what I hope he says.

A little over a dozen years ago, Afghani soldiers emerged victorious from a ten year war with the Soviet Union.  These Afghan forces, aided by the military and technical support of the United States, hastened the end of communism in the former Soviet Union, and with it, the Cold War.  Serving on the front lines in the final battle of a fifty year war with communism, the Afghanis paid a terrible price for their defense of freedom.  Over a million Afghanis lost their lives fighting the USSR.  The infrastructure within the country was destroyed.  Sadly, since the end of the war, circumstances have done nothing but deteriorate.

In the decade since they defeated the Soviets, Afghanistan has endured an almost continuous civil war.  That civil war has left the country broken and impoverished.  This continuous warfare has also provided the ideal environment for political instability.  Today, Afghanistan is nominally ruled by a radical, fundamentalist government, the Taliban, who has evidenced little respect for even the most basic human rights.

Unfortunately, the United States bears at least some responsibility for the sad state of affairs.  During the conflict with the Soviets, the United States armed and trained some of the most radical elements in Afghanistan, including Osama bin Laden.  Sophisticated weaponry provided by the United States remain within the region, and in the hands of these radical elements, to this day.  At the conclusion of the war, for all intents and purposes, the United States withdrew the country.  Sadly, we did not help rebuild the war torn nation, as we had so many times in the past.  Instead, we departed, leaving those radical elements to bring about the predictable ends we have witnessed over the past decade.  Today, the Afghanistan is in ruins, its people are on the brink of starvation, it remains locked in civil warfare, and an estimated two million impoverished Afghanis have fled the country to refugee camps in Pakistan.  The unstability inherent in a nation at war with itself has also provided the perfect environment for terrorists, including those who have attacked the United States, to find refuge.

While we can and must pursue the terrorists who have set up their base of operations in Afghanistan, it is not in our long term interest that we do so in a manner that exacerbates the humanitarian crisis which the country now faces.  Indeed, it is in the United States interest that we pursue these terrorists in a manner that provides the Afghani people reason to join us, rather than resists us, in our pursuit.  Ultimately, terrorism is never going to be defeated unless the people of all nations are joined with the United States in pursuing those who would commit the crimes against humanity we all witnessed last week.  For that reason, our actions in Afghanistan must show the world that cooperation with the United States in this fight is a far more noble calling than is resistance.

Therefore, our policy will simultaneously address the humanitarian needs of the Afghani people while we conduct military operations directed towards bringing Osama bin Laden and his organization to justice.  The United States will immediately undertake the provision of food, supplies, and humanitarian assistance for the Afghani people, including those in refugee camps in Iran and Pakistan.  The Afghani people have suffered terribly, and the United States must be a part of bringing that suffering to an end.  Simultaneously, the United States must conduct a manhunt for the terrorists responsible for the attacks on our nation using all necessary force to bring those parties to justice.  Ours will be a mission not only to bring those who have wronged us to justice, but to do so in a way that does not commit further injustices.

There are many who will criticize our policy as appeasing terrorists.  Answering those critics, we note that the United States is the most awesome military force the world has every known.  It is well within our capability to destroy any of our adversaries with such finality that they would never rise from the ashes.  Let there be no mistake; our actions are not taken in fear; the United States fears no one.

As a result of our power, the United States has a special responsibility when conducting military actions.  We cannot behave as though we terrorists, because unlike the those who perpetrated crimes against humanity last week, there is no one who could stop the United States if we were to behave as our enemies.  Therefore, we cannot and will not lower ourselves to the tactics and morals of terrorists.  We are the guiding light of the world, and we shall conduct ourselves as such.