| [...] In any case the objective is the same: to bring about the US's withdrawal from Saudi Arabia. [...] So we won't expect the terrorist attacks to be over, though they could change their ways. Therefore we should protect our people from more violence. Would it mean to undertake a war in the Midle East as Pres. Bush vowes?. Undoubtedly such an action would obstruck the operations of Osama Bin Laden's network, but I don't believe it will neutralize his capability, since his forces are widely spread and are proven to operate independently from multiple points. Instead: a war like this, would cause a tremendous loss of muslim lives, which will discredit even more the reactionary monarchies sustained by Washington, encouraging thousands of new volunteers to join Bin Laden against the USA. That's why I think we should take a different stand focused on coordinating at international level a vigorous intelligence task toward identifying and erradicating Bin Laden's connections. At the same time we should lead a moral crusade against Osama Bin Laden presenting him as an enemy of Islam, because the genuine Islamic Tradition wouldn't provoke a genocide of inocents (sept. 11) ... In order to be successful however, we have to reconsider the american policy in the Gulf, showing more understanding of the muslim arabs, while demanding the Saudi regime a calendar for the country's democratization ... |
| Avance hispano. San Francisco, CA. Oct. 2001 WEBSITE: www.avancehispano.com 'From Terror: to War or Reflection'. by Michael Klare |
| From Terror: to War or Reflection |
| Saudi Prince: Afghans Could Have Sold Out bin Laden |
| Iran's Leader Rejects bin Laden's Message |
| President Mohammad Khatami of Iran yesterday branded as extremist Osama bin Laden's version of Islam and said it doesn't represent the majority of the world's 1.2 billion Muslims. |
| [...]the bombing of Afghanistan, he tells TIME, is "really affecting people's consciences" and "creating opposition to the U.S. position". In concrete terms, Turki says, "if someone like (assassinated rebel leader) Abdul Haq comes and says, 'join us in supporting the U.S. against Al Qaeda', it won't make sense ... for an Afghan who sees his neighbor's house being destroyed by an American bomb". |
| The People's Media |
| [...] An article I was e-mailed recently from a former colleague dealt with the real number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan. According to Professor Marc W. Herold of the University of New Hampshire -who has been doing daily tabulations based on any casualty reports he can find- there has been at least 3,500 civilian deaths since Oct 7. In response to questions about documented civilian bombings, Pentagon officials say: 'It just didn't happen.' We must arm ourselves with this knowledge, these perspectives, so we can work to dismantle oppression that utilizes mass media as soldiers of silence. Yet, we must keep the ammunition of a critical mind at all times. Seek the truth. |
| www.asianweek.com (12/20/01) |
| U.S. 'Chasing Shadows' Continues Bombing |
| [...] A military spokesman said U.S. forces were going to stop "chasing the shadows" of bin Laden and Mullah Omar ... |
| Reuters, January 7, 2002 |
| [...] Because to catch terrorists you need the eyes and ears of civilian populations, who will report suspicious activity. If civilians don't cooperate (and if they hate us, they won't), terrorists will be able to hide and act with impunity. |