Afghanistan's drive toward democracy reached a major milestone Sunday when the "loya jirga," or grand council, approved a new constitution. The country, which the charter defines as an "Islamic state," will have a popularly elected president and a bicameral legislature. Human rights will be respected, with women enjoying the same rights as men under the law. Minority languages will be accorded official status.

All of this was unthinkable during the Taliban's repressive rule. How times -- and nations change. That militant Islamic regime, of course, collapsed two years ago, although the al-Qaeda terrorist group it supported is still alive. Under the new national charter, born-again Afghanistan is moving ever closer toward building a democratic nation.

Optimism seems hardly warranted, though. Making the constitution work requires internal stability, which is key to national unity. But a lack of security is still a big problem in new Afghanistan, as evidenced by a rocket explosion that occurred just one kilometer from where the loya jirga was meeting. The Taliban militia is gone, but its remnants are reportedly regrouping.