In symbolism-laden gesture, American flag is raised again over embassy in Kabul

By LAURA KING
AP Special Correspondent

KABUL, Afghanistan – Raising the same flag that had been lowered at the U.S. Embassy almost 13 years ago, an honor guard of U.S. Marines snapped out crisp salutes Monday, and a U.S. envoy pledged deep American involvement in Afghanistan's struggle to rebuild.

"We are here, and we are here to stay," James F. Dobbins, the special U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, vowed at the flag-raising held under gray, rain-heavy skies in the dilapidated front courtyard of the embassy, shuttered since 1989.

Looking on were several top representatives of the interim Afghan government that will take power Saturday. Some of the Afghan guests waved tiny paper American flags.

While the "Star-Spangled Banner" played, a little tinnily, over a portable sound system, a four-man honor guard bore forward the flag that had been stored since the last American diplomats left Kabul on Jan. 31, 1989.

After running it up the flagpole, the Marines and other U.S. troops – some of them wearing local Afghan dress, with scarves and rough wool sweaters – saluted.

Dobbins called it a turning point in the American role in Afghanistan.

"It's a historic return of the United States – diplomatically, politically and economically – to a place that we and others in the international community have too long neglected," he said.

For now, the embassy building will be used as a liaison office, housing a small group of American diplomats. A charge d'affaires will be appointed in coming weeks, and then an ambassador. In the meantime, Dobbins said, "I declare this mission open for business."

The embassy was one of many diplomatic outposts in the capital being rushed into service. Turkey, NATO's only Muslim member state, also reopened its embassy Monday.

Like Kabul itself, the embassy bore silent witness to years of upheaval in Afghanistan – the Soviet invasion, the bloody civil war that left much of the capital in ruins, the repressive Taliban era and the American-led air assault.

The embassy was far from immune to the turbulence around it. The last U.S. ambassador, Adolph Dubs, was kidnapped by Islamic militants in 1979. He was killed by cross fire in a botched rescue attempt by Afghan security agents.

For the next decade, the embassy stayed open without an ambassador. After the last staffers left in 1989, Afghan custodians – who were honored at Monday's ceremony – kept watch over the compound.

"It was our duty," said white-bearded Nawab Ali, 62, who ferried in salaries when he could for fellow Afghan guards, at one point slipping across the Pakistani frontier by donkey.

"I have waited for this day to come," he said with a broad smile.

On Sept. 26, with Taliban police looking on, protesters attacked the embassy in a carefully choreographed display of anti-American sentiment, ripping down the U.S. seal, setting vehicles ablaze and burning a guardhouse. During the U.S.-led airstrikes that began Oct. 7, a few Taliban broke into the compound and camped out in the embassy's bomb shelter, caretakers said.

Dobbins, an architect of the U.N.-brokered agreement setting up Afghanistan's interim government, has long experience in troubled venues like Haiti, Somalia, Bosnia and Kosovo. He said he would make frequent visits to Kabul until a permanent ambassador is appointed.

The re-establishment of an American diplomatic presence in Kabul is laden with symbolic significance – but is also seen as an important practical move to help keep the transfer of power on track.

The new post-Taliban government is headed by Pashtun tribal leader Hamid Karzai, and key Cabinet posts are held by members of the northern alliance, which seized most of Afghanistan from the Taliban, aided by the U.S. air offensive.

An international peacekeeping force is expected to be deployed soon. The United States will not take part in peacekeeping patrols, but will provide logistic, intelligence and transport help, Dobbins said.

After the Soviets withdrew in 1989, Afghanistan plunged into civil war, and then fell under the rule of the Taliban, who sheltered Osama bin Laden, chief suspect in the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States.

Dobbins said Afghans had paid a heavy price over the years. "On Sept. 11, the United States also paid a price, and that's something no one wants to see repeated," he said.

During the ceremony, a moment of silence was observed to honor innocent victims of the war in Afghanistan, together with the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Along with the American flag that was raised, another flag that had flown over the charge d'affaire's residence was preserved – together with a note, dated Jan. 31, from the last detachment of Marines to serve here.

"Marines," said its simple salutation. Signed by Gunnery Sgt. James M. Black, the note asked that the flag be cared for – "For those of us that were here, it means a lot," Black wrote.

"Semper fi," he added. "We Kabul Marines endured, as I'm sure you will."

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