topic by
nemesis
11/10/2001 (18:26)

http://www.dawn.com/2001/11/10/ed.htm

A dangerous proposition

Colin Powel's statement that the US could target Iraq after the war against Afghanistan was over cannot but cause serious concern to the Muslim world. Talking to reporters after a meeting with his Kuwaiti counterpart, the US Secretary of State said nations such as Iraq which were or still are engaged in developing weapons of mass destruction 'should not think that ... we will not turn our attention to them.' After the goals of the Operation Enduring Freedom were over, America, he said, would turn its attention to terrorism throughout the world.

While Secretary Powell spoke of action against Iraq after the operation against Osama bin Laden and Taliban was over, there are others in the US who would not wait even that long but would want the current campaign to be widened straightaway. Those who belong to this camp include influential congressmen, retired diplomats, former intelligence hands, and think-tank intellectuals - among them, former CIA chief James Woolsey, ex-ambassador to UN Jeanne Kirkpatrick, and author Francis Fukuyama.

Recently, a group known as Project for a New American Century (PNAC) sent a letter urging President Bush to punish not only Iraq but also Lebanon, Syria, Iran and the Palestinian Authority. This group includes people who hold important positions in the Bush administration, including Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, Vice-President Dick Cheney's chief of staff Lewis Libby, top Bush aide Elliott Abrams, Defence Under secretary Douglas Feith, Defence Policy Board chief Richard Perle, and Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the president's brother.

Astonishingly, the letter asked President Bush to attack Iraq 'even if evidence does not link Iraq directly to the (September 11) attack.' This being the state of mind of some of the top Bush officials, one wonders what chances the world coalition has of staying together for a successful completion of the operation in Afghanistan.

The September 11 carnage has been roundly condemned by the entire world. Also, some of the world's leading Muslim nations, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, have offered full assistance to the US-led world coalition for the purpose of bringing Osama bin Laden and his group to justice and punishing the Taliban government for harbouring the al-Qaeda group.

This was quite a bold step, because these Muslim governments have to face their own people, who, despite condemning terrorism, are opposed to indiscriminate bombing which involves enormous human casualties. Thus, even to think of extending the current campaign to other Muslim countries would be sheer madness. Already, the military campaign against Afghanistan has all but bogged down. To widen the war while the coalition has its hands full in Afghanistan would only complicate matters. Worse still, Muslim states may then find it impossible to continue to cooperate with an extended military campaign.

It is significant that the PNAC consists of people who are known to be 'passionately committed to Israel.' This is the kind of group that would not mind hurting America's vital and long-term interests at the altar of Israel's unending quest for lebensraum. It wants the Bush administration to make a number of more Muslim countries a target of US military strikes. This is as quixotic as it is dangerous. It is time saner counsel prevailed in Washington. Even the very idea of expanding the war is too dangerous to be entertained.

reply by
observer
11/10/2001 (19:01)

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Those Muslim states now cooperating with the US are fools plain and simple. They remind me of Jewish slave laborers who helped the Nazis kill their fellow Jews for a few months of extra life.

If the US wins in Afganistan, other Muslim states are sure to be targeted. The US is seeking nothing less than total hegemony over the Muslim world. The Muslims only hope is to stand together. If they stand by and allow the US to target them one at a time their fate is sealed.

Having been lied to back in 1991 during the Gulf War, how can they be so stupid as to allow a repeat performance?

reply by
the Pond
11/10/2001 (24:39)

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What muslim nations?

As far as I know, most, if not all the leaders of Islamic nations are either communists, atheists, or money hungry capitalists. Religion has nothing to do with any decision making.

When someone talks of 'muslim states' the only sound that can be heard is the laughter of the leaders of these so called 'muslim' states. When muslims start talking about sticking together i wonder what planet they have been living on for the past 100 years.

Stupidity has nothing to do with it. It is greed plain and simple.

reply by
Robert Ventura USA
11/11/2001 (24:41)

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Observer - once again, you show the intelligence and wisdom of a goat. It is plain to all in the USA that your own Muslim nation 'leaders' are allowing the Islamic fundamentalist movements to exists and they allow for the open criticism of the USA and Israel - but they do not allow for the open criticsm of their own leaders...
Think about it.. do you know why? So that the focus will not be on the tyrants and dictators who rule the nations in your region. They want the hatred campaign against the USA and Israel to grow so that no one looks internally at the governments of the middle east. If the peoples of the middle east were to channel their anger toward their own governments, they would achieve much, much more. They would liberate their own countries into a place of free speech, better health care, education, better infrastructure, safety and well being for your people. It is NOT the USA or Israel that keeps you down. It is your own backwards thinking and lack of courage to change the world that you live in. Stop trying to change other countries. When you succeed in changing your own countries, only then will you succeed in winning a Palestinian state.