Once again in response to Tim O' Keenan. You ask "what gives Paul Shamla the right to decide who is a good government and who isn't?" The answer is that I, just like everyone else on this planet, can look at what the Taliban has done and what its beliefs are, and conclude that it is not fit to hold authority over others. Even if they were supported by the majority of Afghans - which we'll never know, since they weren't elected - they still wouldn't have the right to commit the terrible human rights abuses that they have. Just because they happen to be native to Afghanistan doesn't make them right, and I'd bet that the large numbers of Afghans who have died resisting their rule would agree with me if they could.
You ask for proof of al Qaeda's involvement in the attacks. Many of the Sept. 11 hijackers have been linked to al Qaeda, and Osama bin Laden has repeatedly praised them and called for further attacks on Americans. That's all I know. If bin Laden is captured, he will stand trial and proof must be brought forth, but the evidence currently available justifies military action against a known terrorist organization.
Finally, you say "it is impossible to stop terrorism completely. So what the hell are we doing?" and "why is it OK for our military to kill people and not OK for me to?" Of course, no amount of military intervention will stop small-scale activities like suicide bombings. However, to break up larger organizations and prevent them from using weapons like anthrax and nuclear explosives, military force becomes necessary. Standing back and allowing more and more deadly attacks is simply not an option. This is what makes it okay for the military to kill - defense of the innocent, a principle which also gives ordinary citizens like you and me the right to use deadly force in some instances. It would be great if war were not necessary, but it is, and I'm grateful to those who take on the responsibility of fighting for the rest of us. I'd like to believe that all Americans are, but that's obviously not the case.
Paul Shamla
Mechanical Engineering
