|
No win situation?
(November 3)
After more than three weeks of military campaign against terrorism (read bombardment on Taliban regime in Afghanistan) the United States, the world's most powerful, nation is making little headway.
As a matter of fact the United States has little achievement to claim barring killing of innocent people in the name of curbing terrorism. Immediately after the terror strikes on New York's World Trade Center, in which more than 5000 innocent people, were killed President George W Bush thundered the United States would use all means under its command to hunt and ferret out the "terrorists" responsible for the terror
strikes and bring them to justice.
And the US holds Osama bin Laden squarely responsible for the attacks and believes that bin Laden is taking refuge in Afghanistan ruled by Taliban. When the attacks began the idea was to nab Laden, "the most
wanted". Till now the US is yet to come out with concrete proofs of bin Laden's involvement in the hijacking and horrifying attack on the WTC.
Moreover after more than three weeks of military campaign the US is not sure of ever nabbing Laden. In the campaign innocent civilians including women and children are getting killed. This is a very serious matter. The Taliban claimed that US bombers blasted a hospital in Kandahar killing more than
10 people. The Taliban is also claiming that American bombs and missiles have killed some 500 people.
There should not be any difference between the killing of people by the attack on the WTC and killing of innocent, people by the US raids in Afghanistan. The world mourned, the deaths at the WTC, but few seem to be willing to denounce the killing of innocent citizens in Afghanistan.
This is not to say that US attempt to nab bin Laden should stop. The point is the US should take extra care that innocent people are not sacrificed in its hunt for terrorists.
Interestingly the US seems to have changed its initial aim of nabbing bin Laden. It now appears that the aim of the military strike in Afghanistan is to bomb the Taliban regime out of power to install a democratic Government. The war is no longer against global terrorism, but a very limited one against
the Taliban regime.
The US accused the Taliban of exporting drugs and terrorism across the globe. But the United States should be cautious that its bombing of Afghanistan
do not spread hatred among countries and create more problems than tackling terrorism. As killing of innocent people and children by American bombs in the land of Taliban continues, anti-US feelings will be fanned in several countries particularly Muslim nations. It will antagonize the Muslims worldwide.
We have already witnessed violent anti-war demonstrations in Pakistan, which is providing support to the US against the Taliban regime. The demonstrations may, spread to other countries as well. The US should review its position. It is unlikely that its initial goal of bringing Laden to justice will be achieved in the near future. On the other hand raining bombs in Afghanistan could cause a worldwide disaster.
(Courtesy:
The Sangai Express)
Back
to Top
|
