`No' to revenge

Sir, - In `Retribution, not revenge', Mr. Rajeev Bhargava (Sept. 24) rightly points out that the people in the developing world find their lives ``utterly valueless'' in the wake of tragedies akin to that of September 11. Crimes against humanity have been committed at will across the world, but the U.S. has chosen to intervene only at times dictated by its needs.

Where was the U.S. when the gruesome assault on Sabra and Shatila in Lebanon took place in 1982? The act of the Phalangists with the tacit support of Israel and Mr. Ariel Sharon was no less cold-blooded terrorism. The genocide in Rwanda did not incense the U.S., nor did the incessant warfare in the Congo.

Retaliation will serve political ends - to salve the wounded ``collective pride'' of a lone superpower - and not humanitarian ones. Massive punitive strikes cannot root out terrorism; they will only exacerbate the situation, drive an already impoverished, desperate and drifting people into an abyss of despondency and will harden the attitude of a regime that is an enemy of its own people.

The last time the Americans gave a clarion call to the world, to rid Iraq of Mr. Saddam Hussain, they actually strengthened his position and all their endearment towards the Iraqi opposition parties bore no fruit. This time let us hope this new `alliance', and newly-found affinity with the Northern Alliance does not bear such barren results.

Anjum Mirza,

Hyderabad

* * *

Sir, - As the U.S. prepares for a long drawn war against Osama bin Laden and his outfit, Al Qaeda, it should remember that terrorism cannot be removed from the face of the earth just by eliminating one individual or an organisation.

The U.S. should realise that it is not the only country to have suffered from terrorism. Countries such as India, Sri Lanka, France and the U.K. have lost more innocent lives. So, it is wrong on the part of the U.S. to make the issue American-centric.

Of course, it is justified in seeking immediate revenge for the serious dent in its image caused by the attacks.

But, at the same time, it should take care not to add to the woes of the innocent Afghans. It should take the lead in forging a grand alliance with democracies such as India to fight the war against terrorism.

Raghav Venkatesh,

Gulbarga, Karnataka

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