``Catch Bin Laden in a Trap``

As the primary strategic aim of `the collapse of Taliban government` has been established much earlier than expected, the United States is seeking a change in military operations by adjusting its scales and targets of strikes and concentrating on the search for Osama bin Laden.

Pentagon officials analyze that it has become more difficult to operate large-scaled airstrikes targeting Taliban troops as they have scattered in the southern areas. It is much harder to select the targets in comparison with when the military troops were swarming. In particular, it is not easy in reality for air-bombers to distinguish between the Taliban troops and those of Northern Alliance.

Thus, it is likely that the United States will focus on striking limited areas such as caves in the mountains of the south where bin Laden and the members of Al-Qaeda, rather than Taliban troops, may be hiding, and will try to prevent those who are skilled in guerilla warfare from regrouping after saving their forces.

Pentagon Spokesperson John Stufflebeem said on Nov. 14, ``If Taliban troops and the Al-Qaeda members run into caves of the southern mountainous area, the U.S. forces will pursue them, and we are preparing for guerilla or counter-guerilla warfare if necessary.``

Thomas Franks, head of U.S. Central Command and the U.S. commander of the Afghanistan campaign, plans to prepare a new military tactic reflecting changes in the situation and to conduct the second phase of the military campaign to ferret out Osama bin Laden and Mohammed Omar, the Taliban leader, after consulting with the Pentagon.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Nov. 14, ``We have made progress but the war is not over yet.`` and continued, ``We will continue the military campaign until we achieve our goal by conducting airstrikes even during the period of Ramadan and maintaining the intensity of attacks.``

Ki-Heung Han eligius@donga.com