Dr. Steven Bird:

The third paragraph of your statement is either a total distortion or you
don't make any difference between capturing and killing.  For your
information and understanding, I do not believe or advocate killing any
human being, friend or foe. I want those who commit injustice to become
transformed like Zacchaeus.  Did you read my entire statement instead of
quoting less than half of it?  You are again incorrect.  The fact that the
Bush Administration is taking so much time to do something, shows their
patience.  I believe that they are trying, let us see what Bush is going
say tonight, and carefully planning to reduce innocent human casualties and
harmful consequences as much as humanly possible.  Please don't project
your own attitudes of "kill" and "narrow-minded" on to others.  I pray for
you to change your attitudes and become a good man, which you basically
are!  Best wishes to you!

At 08:05 PM 9/18/01 -0400, Steven Bird wrote:
>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
>