Liberate Afghanistan From the Taliban

As an Afghan American, I am concerned about the type of retaliation that the U.S. will choose in response to last Tuesday’s heinous crimes. The people of Afghanistan have been driven to the verge of starvation by war and the Taliban “government.” Cutting off fuel and other supplies to the country would only worsen their awful plight without significantly harming the Taliban or Osama bin Laden. On the other hand, Afghans would warmly welcome American troops as their liberators if the U.S. chose to use ground forces.

The Bush administration should not resort to embargoes and bombings of bridges and power plants as that would cause massive starvation and death. Instead, the U.S. should enter the country with ground forces, liberate the Afghans from the Taliban and Bin Laden and install a Cambodia-style transitional government. Only then would Afghanistan cease to be a haven for terrorists, drug lords and other criminals.

Aaron Zaheer

Oceanside

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Is this the same Taliban to which, in May, President Bush gave $43 million of our taxpayer money? Or was that the Good Taliban (which hasn’t been killing its own innocent women and children and depriving all its citizens of civil liberties). So is this now another Taliban? Perhaps some of that $43 million was used to buy airline tickets for the hijackers. Perhaps, by giving money to known enemies, we ourselves are a state that sponsors terrorism.

Planaria Price

Los Angeles

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A country that lacked a national purpose since the end of the Cold War now has one. Yet we must be cautious that, armed with this new sense of unity and determination, America doesn’t lead the way in creating a polarization between Muslims and the rest of the world. For it is very likely that one of the aims of Bin Laden and his fanatical network is to force America and the West into a conflict that drives moderate and extreme Muslim nations together with the very same sense of purpose and determination we now feel.

While it is clear that Bush and his government are acting to bring other Muslim nations into the fold in the fight against terrorism, we as American citizens must maintain in our hearts and minds that, though Bin Laden has given his attacks religious overtones, the upcoming struggle is not one between different religions or different cultures. And that there are many Arabs and Muslims around the world who share our determination to live in a free, open and tolerant society.

Peter Ventrella

Hermosa Beach

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Whether we blow Afghanistan off the map or ferret out terrorists one by one, there will always be people who believe that committing these monstrous acts gives their lives meaning. If the bloodshed is to stop, we must find out, and address, why.

Janet Aird

San Gabriel

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The U.S. may stage a major bombing attack on Afghanistan. Obviously, Bin Laden will not be harmed--with his millions, he can travel incognito anywhere in the world. We will bomb innocent people uselessly. And Bin Laden will chuckle.

Diane Forve

Los Angeles