The point is not to swat every mosquito, but to drain the swamp. The war begins in Afghanistan. The first objective must be to destroy the Taliban regime. Remember the context. And now September 11, which sent America into shock and leaves it deep in fear.
Victory breeds victory.
The terrorists feel invincible, and those sitting on the fence in the region are waiting to see whether they really are. Overthrowing the Taliban would reverse the historical tide and profoundly affect the psychological balance of power. This step is so obvious and necessary that it is deeply troubling to see the secretary of state begin to wobble. The Taliban share responsibility for the worst mass murder in American history. If the administration goes wobbly on the Taliban, it might as well give up the war on terrorism before it starts.