Combating Attacks of Moral Relativism

The concern among many American Muslims that airstrikes should be halted before more civilians are killed appears to be growing in popularity (“Bombing Carves a Rift Among Muslims in U.S.,” Oct. 20). One Muslim here in America asked, “If there were terrorists in America, would you bomb the whole country?”

If this is the logic, they should think again. Suspected terrorists in America are hunted down and imprisoned. If they are from a country that has extradition rights, they are sent back to where they came from. Even if they are from a country we hate, the suspected terrorists would still be imprisoned.

The Taliban has said it might turn over Osama bin Laden if, if, if. Bottom line: Bin Laden and his band of terrorists have not even been detained. They are free to do whatever they want. If the Taliban wants to be taken seriously, and indeed if Muslim Americans want the bombing to stop, the minimum that Afghanistan should do is round up the suspected terrorists and put them in jail.

Howard Morris

Alta Loma

*

So, the educated couple in Jakarta, Indonesia, drank champagne on Sept. 11 because they viewed it as recompense for U.S. policies in the Middle East (Commentary, Oct. 22)? Imagine, then, if some people from East Timor were to commit a terrorist act in Jakarta, killing thousands of civilians in the process. Or if the Christians in southern Sudan were to commit terrorist attacks on civilians in Khartoum. Either occurrence could be viewed as a blow against oppression and genocide.

Should freedom-loving people throughout the world then celebrate such events, as the Indonesian couple did? Or is it merely a matter of whose ox is being gored?

Edward Reisman

Santa Monica

*

On Sept. 11 we were attacked by an unprincipled, fanatical enemy without provocation or warning. These people do not play by any rules. We are in a kill-or-be-killed situation. It is time to stop being nice, air-dropping care packages, and start using everything in our arsenal to exterminate them, including nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, before they destroy our way of life and possibly us. Is there any doubt that they would use these means if and when they gain access to them?

M.G. Boobar

Santa Ana