Tribune Staff

With the world's eyes sharply focused on Iraq and its habitual cat-and-mouse game with United Nations weapons inspectors, suddenly an old concern came back on Saturday -- violence in Afghanistan.

On Saturday U.S. troops were attacked by a group of unknown gunmen in the mountainous eastern portion of Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan.

One soldier was killed, a second wounded. Also in Afghanistan, a helicopter crash left seven German peacekeepers dead and killed two Afghan children as well.

The latest bloodshed is a cold reminder of two things: the war on terrorism has really just begun and the peacekeepers in Afghanistan are risking their lives each day.

More than 15 months after terrorists turned hijacked jets into flying bombs, killing thousands, Americans must not let the country's vigilance against terror waver.

Despite a year of searching, many of the al-Qaida terrorist group's leaders are still at large. Al-Qaida's threat is still very real and may, in fact, be as potent as it was prior to Sept. 11.

America and its world allies have done a good job of recognizing the problem and going after its root, but as President Bush said more than one year ago, this is unlike any conventional war.

"Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen," Bush said in a September 2001 speech.

Saturday's violence, both at the hands of gunmen and by sheer fate, bolster the need for Americans to keep our memories on our soldiers fighting to protect our freedoms, at home and abroad.

We must not become complacent; we must not forget the violence of Sept. 11. During the Christmas holidays, make sure to spend a few minutes remembering those who are risking their lives so that we may enjoy a free and peaceful holiday.