Two years in, US struggles toward Afghan stability

WASHINGTON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld calls the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan a success, but two years into the mission Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar remain elusive and aid workers complain of deteriorating security.

Two years ago this week, President George W. Bush launched a war in Afghanistan in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America blamed on bin Laden's al Qaeda and the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban government, headed by Mullah Omar, that harbored the guerrilla network.

A unique U.S. war plan relying on air power, stealthy special forces and collaboration with Afghan opposition fighters swept the Taliban from power in short order and scattered bin Laden and his followers.

But bringing stability to an impoverished country battered by conflict since 1979 and with a history of upheaval dating back to ancient times has proved a more daunting task, even for the world's only superpower.

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