Dear Editor,

Seventeen sailors were killed and 39 injured in the suicide bombing of an American warship, the USS Cole, while it was refuelling on October 12 in Aden. The bombing of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in Africa two years back by the followers of exiled Saudi extremist Osama bin Laden, prove that the USA is soon going to become the most threatened and insecure nation on the globe. The Americans are getting more enemies every day.

Americans have been strengthening their own potential enemies and ignoring potential friends. A number of countries that the USA armed and trained are now harbouring the most deadly terrorists who are targeting Americans. The same weapons that America gave them are being used against Americans. What have the Americans got for helping the Afghans against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan? Osama bin Laden is hiding safely in Afghanistan as an honoured guest of the Taliban regime.

What do the Muslims think of the USA? Islamic extremists believe that they destroyed a superpower like the Soviet Union by defeating it in Afghanistan. With Allah on their side, they now firmly believe they can also defeat their former ally and at present the only superpower, the USA, in their jihad. The USA is described as the great Satan by Islamic extremists who have sworn to destroy America.

The Islamic suicide squad members, called terrorists by American leaders, are revered as heroes by Islamic fundamentalists. Those who succeed in their assassination and bombing missions, and themselves die, are considered the greatest martyrs of Islam. Americans may call Osama bin Laden anything, but he is a hero and potentially the most revered martyr for the Islamic fundamentalists.

The day is not far off when Islamic extremists will grab nuclear bombs from somewhere. They will then definitely use the nuclear bombs against others, including the Americans even if they also die in retaliatory attacks as they are always ready to become martyrs in the name of Islam.

Yours faithfully,

Ashok T Jaisinghani

A crime against humanity

Dear Editor,

I viewed with horror the carnage in New York, occasioned by the premeditated actions of terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center building. They also wrecked parts of the Pentagon. How can people in their right minds do such a thing? It is a vicious heinous crime against humanity!

Prior to that outrage, I was an ardent supporter of the Palestinian cause. Now I am not so sure. While their cause may be just, these suicide missions are not. I am not for one minute justifying the brutal actions of the Israeli government. They should return the Palestinians' land.

Hijacking passenger jets in mid-air and using them with the passengers inside on suicide missions against the American government is loathsome!

What sort of military target can the World Trade Center present? Crammed, as it is each day with civilians? So far, no organisation has dared to own up to this crime, although it is reported that there is rejoicing on the West Bank.

Suicide missions in Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East have been owned up to readily and proudly. What's the hurdle this time? Why have the intellectual authors of this vile atrocity not yet stepped forward to be counted? Are they afraid of the inevitable reprisals to come?

President Bush in his worldwide broadcast openly said words to the effect that there would be reprisals.

Both sides in the Middle East row are intractable. Peace missions by prominent and distinguished personalities have been countless since 1948. This ill?advised mass murder of thousands of American civilians is seen by many observers as a quantum escalation in the conflict.

I may still be stunned by the ferocity of the atrocity, but to date I can't see how the Palestinian or Arab cause will benefit from that particular slaughter. Right now Bush is meeting with his top advisers to plan an "appropriate response."

My solution to the Middle East conflict may be simplistic, but it's a proposal:

1) Lands belonging to the Palestinians must be returned.
2) Israel must withdraw from the Golan Heights.
3) Jerusalem must be divided between the two sides.
4) Palestine must be recognised as a sovereign state.
5) A peace pact should be signed by all UN member states.
6) Suicide missions by whoever, must be called off.

Yours faithfully,
Carlton Campbell