Afghans cannot bear a strike from America

THE EDITOR, Sir:

COUNTLESS INNOCENTS have died, a nation mourns, a world in sympathy. But is it too much to ask that Americans do not now make a bad situation worse by killing countless more innocents?

When the US military last attacked bin Laden, they killed thousands of very poor people and destroyed a pharmaceutical factory in Sudan ­ not a country with the money to buy drugs from abroad.

Iraqis and Afghans are massively oppressed by their 'governments', they are dying under sanctions and drought, they hardly even have food or medicine, let alone rescue facilities like yours in New York.

We in Britain love much about America and stand foursquare with you against terrorism, but please know that injustice breeds terror, blind vengeance breeds injustice, and terrible acts of vengeance against innocent populations will only breed more terrorists. For all our sakes now, please remember that Jesus was a peacemaker, and that there is a world out here of billions of innocent people. We do not deserve brute punishments of a new world war.

Of course the guilty must be punished, but in this case most are already dead ­ God will deal with their souls.

We still on this Earth must spread peace, justice and understanding ­ then together we can make this world a safer place, a kinder place ­ the kind of place most ordinary Americans really want it to be, whatever your leaders may seek to do in your name. Please, no war, but education, understanding, and justice ­ for all.

I am etc.,

ZOE YOUNG

100 Bayswater Rd

London W2 UK

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