<HTML>Derek
>>To blindly decimate the communitys to which the guilty are said to belong and call it self defence would be a shortsighted act of folly that would leave us little better than those we condemn.
This isn't really a fair description of what I said :-)
No one is suggesting decimating anything for a start. The UN resolution is about the fact that those that harbour, aid and enable terrorism should be held accountable for those crimes. Terrorism wouldn't be able to operate without this aid. Therefore the proposal is to have a deterrent effect - if a state knew that they had to pay a price for harbouring terrorist organisations - then perhaps they wouldn't allow these people safe haven there.
For example Bin Laden is wanted already in connection with other terrorist activities - the Taliban have allowed him to stay in Afghanistan, to meet with other terrorists, to plan new attacks and who knows what other aid (training camps etc) The US are within their legal rights to demand that the Taliban are held accountable for this aid. If they don't hand over Bin Laden then what is your plan? You have to have the threat of attack - and realistically this means that you have to be prepared to use it. This is all self-defence. The US (really NATO) would be diminishing the capability of these terrorists groups to operate, and thus diminish their chances of being able to mount future attack. Bin Laden, of course, preaches that killing Americans is a way to serve Allah. I think there is little doubt that he hopes to continue his terrorist activities.
>>We cannot absolve ourselves of responsibility for the aftermath of our own actions in the coming days and weeks.
I agree. But I'm guessing that those charged with the job of defending their people might see it so that if they don't act and the terrorists are able to indiscriminately kill thousands more people - then right - they are responsible for failing to act appropriately in self-defence.
>>Already we are seeing attacks on ordinary people in our own countries for no other reason than that they share a skin colour or clothing style with the image of Bin Laden.
I with you here. Very disturbing. Have you heard of any incidents - I haven't (thankfully) so far.
How are you doing anyway? You haven't been about recently....:-)
Claire</HTML>
