Tough decisions for US on war

The US is debating the use and role of ground troops

By the BBC's Paul Reynolds in Washington

After more than a week of bombing, American thinking is turning to the next phase of operations in Afghanistan: The possible use of ground troops and the assembling of a future coalition government.

But it is easier said than done.

This was supposed to be a special forces' war, but how they will be used?

Although the bombing has been underway for only eight days, there are already reports in Washington expressing frustration that more progress has not been made towards toppling the Taleban and capturing Osama bin Laden.

This week's Newsweek magazine says that the Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had grumbled that the military could not come up with a creative plan.

That may be so, but remember that all military campaigns involve disagreements. This one will be no different. It does not mean that decisions will not be taken.

Ask the Russians

The military indeed has a difficult task. Bombing is the easy part. It is hard to follow that up with ground troops, even Special Forces, in such mountainous terrain and against such elusive targets.

Ask the Russians. Special forces make nice graphics in newspapers and on TV.

The US is concerned with how Afghanistan will look if the Taleban are ousted

But how to use them is the problem. Does the military send in snatch squads, sent in if there is specific intelligence, or insert Special Forces teams, lying low and in wait?

All this helps explain why President Bush, and Mr Rumsfeld himself, urge patience. Mr Bush has said this might go on for a year or two.

Against that, the optimists point out that the al-Qaeda network must have been disrupted and not just by the bombing.

Probably more important right now is the police and intelligence work that is already thought to have foiled several attacks, including one on the American Embassy in Paris, another on the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Future government

And from this point of view, the military operations in Afghanistan are of secondary importance.

The other issue preoccupying Washington more and more is a future government of Afghanistan.

Having declared early on that "nation building" was not on the agenda, Mr Bush is now actively engaged in doing just that.

He has spoken of the UN having a role and his Secretary of State Colin Powell is talking about a possible coalition during his visit to Pakistan.

If such a grouping could be put together, it might provide a framework for the United States to support efforts by internal groups to overthrow the Taleban and give American military planners something definite on which to agree.