At 04:37 PM 9/18/01 -0400, P. K. Geevarghese wrote:
>
>
>The above idea is not a simple one but highly complex.  However, we should
>remember that we can do it and we must do it.  Disobedient and careless
>civilians or those who do not listen to warnings and our thought of their
>casualties should not prevent us from making sure that what happened in New
>York and the surrounding areas will not happen again in this great country
>of ours.  Remember that America is the greatest country ever existed on
>this planet and we can do it and make our country better in spite of our
>great loss.  If you do not understand it, we can discuss it, but don't be
>persuaded by half truth that neutralizes your feelings for justice and the
>whole truth and thus make you question our mission!

Just because you don't agree with a point of view doesn't make it invalid.
The writer had a valid point - bin Laden is clearly looking at a longer
range plan than we are presently, and it is possible that we are doing
exactly what he wants us to do.  That notion MUST be considered.

I hope that you are wrong about the religious aspects of this crisis.  This
should not be about Muslim vs. anyone else; it should be about all of us
against terrorism. It CANNOT be a crusade, or we surely will be looking at
WW-III.

We've known for years that this day was coming, and yet we effectively did
nothing to prepare for it.  My personal opinion is that our present leaders
are sabre-rattling, hoping to scare the Afghans/Pakistani into capturing
him for us.  I don't think it will work.  You yourself suggested that a
REALLY large reward might actually succeed in convincing someone to kill or
capture him.  I think that's an interesting idea.  Even several billion
dollars would be cheaper than a ground invasion of Afghanistan.

I'm not interested in reforming bin Laden.  I want him punished for his
crimes. I don't believe that a massive military invasion will accomplish
any of the "goals" set forth by the Bush administration.  In the meantime,
there is a real risk that we will become ensnared in a civil war in
Pakistan (if the present government is toppled by bin Laden's henchmen and
the Taliban -- surely a strong possibility), as did the Soviet government
at one time in Afghanistan itself.  A civil war in Pakistan, with a few
nuclear devices loose in the hands of terrorists, will make Vietnam look
like a picnic in comparison.

No-one in the Bush administration is discussing any option but invasion.
Doesn't this strike you as a little narrow-minded?


----------------------------------------
Dr. Steven Bird
Director of Orchestras
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga