18 - 24 October 2001
Issue No.556
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 18 - 24 October 2001 Issue No.556 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Friendly fire
For the second time since the United States started its military campaign against Afghanistan, its "high-precision" bombs missed their target. This time, they hit a Red Cross warehouse in Kabul.The Taliban has also said that the victims of the US-British campaign have been mainly civilians, including women and children.
Ironically, Tuesday's attack came shortly before George W Bush was due to visit Red Cross headquarters in Washington as part of a campaign to raise funds for Afghan children.
The Red Cross said at least 35 per cent of its food supplies for Afghans had been destroyed. It rejected US claims that the warehouse was hit by mistake, since the building was clearly marked as a civilian facility, with a huge red cross emblazoned on the roof.
The US, while claiming that dropping food along with the bombs represents the humanitarian side of its military campaign, rejected demands by six international aid agencies for a pause in the bombing to allow the delivery of food supplies before winter sets in.
The death of civilians can only fuel the angry demonstrations in several Muslim countries.
Helpless Afghans should not be the victims of the US attack. Washington must listen to those who warn against a long and sustained military campaign. Its strategy will diminish any support the US might have, and complicate any prospects of good relations between Washington and a post-Taliban government. Many Afghans may not support the Taliban; but when they see their families killed by US bombs, they will hardly be able to think of Washington as a friend.
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