Is U.S. justified?

Sir, - As we watch Operation Enduring Freedom unfolding on televisions across the world, a coalition of world powers, with the U.S. at the helm, is closing in on Afghanistan - one of the poorest, most ravaged, war-torn countries.

The irony is that Osama bin Laden is an old friend of the U.S. When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, it became a springboard for the U.S. to settle its old scores with its former Cold War enemy. And the CIA, with Pakistan's support, launched the largest covert operation in its history. It recruited and funded 100,000 mujahideen from various Islamic countries and Osama was one of the `jehadis' who moved into Afghanistan to fight the Soviets.

Osama has had the distinction of being promoted by the FBI from a suspect to a prime suspect and ultimately to one who is ``wanted dead or alive,'' - all this without any concrete evidence. If the U.S. didn't have the evidence on who attacked the WTC on September 11, it would have to invent one. Now that the war has begun, the U.S. will develop its own reasoning and justification.

As we watch the drama unfold, there are some questions that hound our minds: What is being avenged in Afghanistan ? What is going to be achieved? And how many dead Afghans would it take for each dead American?

Mohammed Ali Siddiqui,

Hyderabad

* * *

Sir, - What happened on September 11 was, no doubt, devastating and unacceptable. Thousands of innocent people, including several Muslims, lost their lives. But the U.S. has attacked Afghanistan without providing decisive evidence and showing proof of Osama bin Laden's involvement in the strikes. What is the fault of the Afghan people? If the U.S. had the proof, it should have presented it before the world and the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

K.S. Habibullah,

Vellore, TN

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Opinion
Previous : Women oppose war
Next     : Worth the wait?