War has a language of its own, and the word with the most currency lately is “blowback,” which is the boomerang effect of supplies and support given to a group or a country that later uses them against the supplier. The $3 billion or more that the CIA supplied in weapons and funds to the various alliances within Afghanistan to fight the Soviets in the 1980s and which terrorists more recently have used to their advantage is one example of blowback. Congress should see to it that another is not soon created.

To form an effective alliance quickly against the terrorist network that includes Osama bin Laden, Imad Mughniyeh, Lebanese head of the special overseas operations for Hezbullah, Egyptian Dr. Ayman Al Zawahiri, a senior member of Al-Qaeda, and, perhaps, Saddam Hussein. President Bush needs friends quickly in parts of the world where the United States has not, for good reason, traditionally had a lot of friends. So it is not surprising that the president lifted economic sanctions against Pakistan that were put on three years ago after Pakistan tested nuclear weapons. Relief of that country’s international debt is up next. More favors for more friends are a certainty.

Congress should pause, however, at the administration’s request to eliminate all restrictions on exporting U.S. military weapons and assistance for the next five years. The administration still would consult with the appropriations committees to fund the support. But the request to lift the ban would allow the administration to arm nations that are known havens for terrorists (including Pakistan) and nations that, under other circumstances, harbor high levels of animosity toward the United States and low levels of regard for democracy. China, for instance.

Among the restrictions the administration seeks to waive is one that allows human-rights abuses to stand as an impediment to a nation receiving U.S. military assistance. Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, who sponsored that 1997 measure, recently said, “Moral leadership in defense of democracy and human rights is vital to what we stand for in the world. … Now is the time to show what sets us apart from those who attack us.”

No one in Congress needs to be reminded that this is an extraordinary time, calling for extraordinary measures. But once the U.S. weapons are sent out to the nation’s new friends, there is no getting them back, no time when the administration can announce that the hostilities are over and the military support for the anti-democratic, anti-human rights countries is now being recalled. The next time Americans see one of those weapons could well be when it is pointed at them.

President Bush properly emphasized last week that the fight against terrorism will be a long one. It will also involve shifting alliances over the years, new friends and new enemies from unexpected quarters. Congress should be careful in allowing the new enemies to grow more powerful with the help of the United States.