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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (46784)	8/2/2004 8:35:48 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

Murder is murder Sir: I wonder if Iraq will ever come out of its current nightmare of bloodshed. Sunday’s car bomb blasts outside five churches in Iraq was tragic and unforgivable. The bomb blasts were deliberately coordinated to coincide with evening prayers. While much of public opinion is with the Iraqis who want an end to the occupation of their country by the US and its allies, this targeting of places of worship will only serve to erode public feelings of empathy. Most of the word understood Iraqi grief when their holy shrines were targeted by the coalition forces. To target places of worship is immoral. To kill people when they are congregated before their God, any God, seems the most sinful form of murder. Indeed, many of the militants operating in Iraq claim to be retaliating against the targeting of Muslim places of worship. While there is legitimacy in wanting the coalition forces out of Iraq, and legitimacy also in the accusations levelled against the Allawi government for being nothing more than an American puppet, the militants have no right to throw the people of Iraq into this never-ending nightmare of bloodshed and death. Moreover, the security vacuum in the country, which seems to daily claim the lives of foreigners to be used as bargaining chips with various foreign governments, simply strengthens the American argument that they cannot leave anytime soon. Indeed, the Bush administration has already rejected the Saudi idea of having Muslim troops replace American command in Iraq. If the militants really want to help the people of Iraq, they should stop this cycle of murder. A peaceful Iraq would be the best argument for getting the Americans out. BABUSHKA NABOKOV Lahore

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (46784)	8/2/2004 8:35:48 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

No yielding to terrorists Sir: Last week’s tragic slaying of the two Pakistani hostages in Iraq has given rise to a heated debate within the country regarding the issue of a possible troop deployment to that country. Most believe that had the government categorically declared it would not send troops to Iraq, the lives of these two men could have been saved. After all, the Philippines withdrew its contingent to save the life of just one of its nationals. Last year, I was firm in my belief that Pakistan should not send combatant forces to Iraq, believing that we should only consider offering logistical support to the Iraqis for the reconstruction of their country. However, within the present context of the terrorists’ threats, I urge President Musharraf not to yield to their demands. For if the terrorists see us give in this once, it will only encourage them further. There will be no end to such abductions and ultimatums. Thus, we should stand strong and send our troops to Iraq. We have no choice but to show the terrorists that they cannot hold us to ransom. If we fail to do this, the whole country will be held hostage to their demands. COL RIAZ JAFRI (RTD) Rawalpindi