Afghans have been starving for more than six years due to the repressive regime of the Taliban. So The U.S.-led coalition is not responsible for the strife of the people of Afghanistan. Lulu Phongmany, who in her letter (Oct. 15) states that "terrorism is stateless and wars are fought by states," is absolutely incorrect. Numerous countries not only turn a blind eye toward terrorism, but also encourage it - such as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia. The United States has declared war on terrorism and, in doing so, must take on those regimes that support and direct terrorism. The Taliban have provided logistical support and territory for training to extremists currently waging jihads in Chechnya, Lebanon, Kosovo, Kashmir and now the United States.
Greg

The Sept. 11 terrorist attack was absolutely appalling. But then so is Canada's response. I see little leadership coming from our Government. We need a prime minister who can make a decision, not one who will test the mood of the nation before deciding to act.
J. Jeffery

A joke I heard perfectly describes the pacifistic mindset. Two pacifists were walking down a road and saw a man lying in the ditch. He was beaten and bloodied. The pacifists said, "Oh, this is just terrible, who would do such a thing? We must find out who did this and help them."
D. Harding

Peace is the only option. Killing more innocents proves nothing.
Karen

I cannot understand why we are wasting so much money at this time to boost our security when Canada is not even a target.
R. Beck, Grand Falls, Nfld.

The only answer is to strike back and I applaud the Americans for doing so, and doubly so for doing it in a calm and measured way.
Shiloh Veronski

I am proud of our military and support the task it must take part in. But I am ashamed at what the government has allowed to happen to our military and intelligence services. I will not say for one minute that we require a military such as that of the United States, but we should be prepared and capable of defending ourselves from both internal and external threats.
Brian

It is a pity that no one seems to realize that an eye for an eye has never worked, and never will.
Morgan Pollard

If this is a war against terrorism, why don't we hear of the British firing missiles at Irish terrorists?
Dr. B. Powar

As a Muslim from Pakistan with family near the Afghan border, I'm disgusted by both sides of this conflict. The vitriolic rhetoric from the Islamic extremists surpasses only the simplistic black-and-white rhetoric from U.S. President George W. Bush.
Adeel Ahmad

We are on a path to self-destruction. A meandering journey obscured by hate, greed and power, and justified beneath the guise of warped religion.
Troy B.

I think this is reflecting the last days that Jesus warned about. We need to look to Him and trust Him as Saviour and Lord. He loves us, and terrorism and death are not His desire.
Alice

Let's get on with finding the Palestinians a homeland and you could pull the rug right out from under the religious fanatics, too.
Joel Duncan, Calgary

The Afghan people should not be paying for the faults of the Taliban or of some elusive terrorist who supposedly hides out in their country. They did not attack the United States, so why is the United States attacking them?
Mike Sand

Operation Enduring Freedom and U.S. President George W. Bush make me more ashamed than ever to be an American. This is insane.
Vita

The strikes are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and hampering relief efforts. The United States and Britain should spend their money on intelligence and on relief and reconstruction efforts, and on more enlightened foreign policy, rather than blowing up some of the poorest people in this world.
Lynda Gagné

If we allow the Afghans to suffer, we become the cause for the next generation to hate us.
Christine Bertin

So the Afghans are asking why the United States is bombing them. They should ask their own leaders. Innocent Afghan villagers are dying. Well, about 6,000 innocent Americans died also.
Alistair Thomson