Events at a Glance

DIPLOMACY

In a race to prevent bloodletting and fill the sudden political vacuum in Kabul, the Afghan capital, the United States and its allies stepped up pressure on Afghanistan’s rival political factions to form a post-Taliban government, while the United Nations moved to set up security forces for areas seized by opposition fighters.

INVESTIGATION

President Bush issued an order allowing the use of special military courts to try suspected terrorists, whether they are picked up in other countries or in the United States. Separately, Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft directed law enforcement authorities to interview more than 5,000 foreign men living in the United States to see if they know anything that might prevent terrorist attacks.

MILITARY FRONT

The next phase of the war in Afghanistan will require strategists at the Pentagon to oust the Taliban from its southern stronghold without an organized Afghan opposition force on the ground. That leaves U.S. policymakers fighting with air power, gifts of money and appeals to disaffected Pushtuns.

ANTHRAX

The State Department is searching its mail system for an undiscovered anthrax-laced letter after testing at an off-site mail room supported health officials’ theory that another such letter exists.

SECURITY

President Bush ordered the government to fill up the nation’s emergency stockpile of oil, taking advantage of low prices to provide the nation with greater long-term energy security.