Behind the 'terrorist' label

THE EDITOR, Sir:

YOU LABEL them as extremists and radicals but to their people, they are Mujahadeen. You see them as terrorists but their people feel they are freedom fighters. Whichever term you find suitable, the fact remains, they have declared a 'Jihad' on America.

However, this 'Jihad' is not holy by the Prophet Mohammed's teachings. No children, women, elderly people or 'soldiers without a sword' must be harmed. No innocent people either. So, they are wrong in their methods.

But why would they declare this 'Jihad'? Many reasons come to my mind. It could be the Afghanny war where Russia invaded Afghanistan. Due to The US' anti-Communist ideal, they aided the Afghannies with weapons and training...in return for heroin which Afghanistan is the largest producer of. After the war, one million Afghannies were killed. The US fled and helped neither the people or the economy. They felt betrayed.

But then again, it could be the Gulf War where they damaged parts of Mecca, the holiest Islamic location, which they are required to visit at least once in their life. Or could it be the many innocent Iraqis killed in bombings? No, these 'smart bombs' (laser-guided bombs) are not accurate despite the military's claims. Or could it be the routine bombings on the Middle East which are covered up by lies and the media not paying it much attention? Or could it be the lack of food and medicine from the US which has killed 1.2 million Iraqis?

Yes. The attack on September 11 was tragic. I wish it never happened. Rest in peace to all the dead and I send my condolences to their families.

Who is the real enemy? Osama (bin Laden is not a surname, it means 'son of Laden') who probably isn't behind this? Almost every 'muslim terrorist' idolises him whether a part of his Al Qaeda network or not. He has 52 siblings... having a brother involved means nothing. Osama hates Egypt because it's 'an un-Islamic Arab nation' in his words. So why were some of the hijackers Egyptian? Or is the real enemy The United States of America which has killed millions of their people and brought this attack on America because they refused to change their foreign policy?

If you don't agree with the above statement but then I guess you blame the 'terrorists'. Aren't you angry at the attack? Well, they are angrier than you. They are feeling what you feel multiplied by a thousand. There's nothing wrong with getting angry. Even Jesus Christ got angry! There's nothing wrong with fighting back either.

The Koran justifies 'Jihad' (which their attack wasn't) if all other methods of making peace fail such as talks and that's what has happened with the US and the Middle East. I don't condone violence at all but the US Government is wrong.

If you punch me in the face, do you think I'll turn the other cheek? No. And when both of us get in trouble and we're in the principal's office, who you think will get the harsher punishment? I'll be screaming, "But he started it!"...so are those who support the attack. This is not opinion. This is common sense.

I am etc.,

PETER D. WRIGHT

Isaiahrider@yahoo.com

Kingston

Via Go-Jamaica

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