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Missile Defense

Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI all over again?

rshowalter - 09:46am Sep 15, 2001 EST (#9084 of 9096)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

America eyes Arab terrorist havens FROM ROLAND WATSON IN WASHINGTON AND PHILIP WEBSTER http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,3-2001321485,00.html

Connected to that fine article, are these briefs. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/thumbnail/0,,2001310239,00.jpg

Taliban: Prepare for holy war

"The leader of Afghanistan's Taliban regime says Muslim people all over the world should be ready for a holy war to defend the Islamic faith. Mullah Mohammad Omar says all Muslims should defend Afghanistan and "be ready for anything to make a sacrifice for Islam". Speaking on the Taliban Voice of Shariat Radio, Mr Omar urged Afghans to prepare for a US assault and stand steadfast "against the enemy". Exiled Saudi millionaire Osama Bin Laden - believed to be hiding out in Afghanistan - is suspected of being responsible for the attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Centre. The Taliban also vowed to take revenge against any country which attacked it. "Death comes to everyone. We must stand proud as Afghans in the defence of Islam," Mr Omar said. "Believe in God, for with the grace of God the American rockets will go astray and we will be saved. "Be ready for jihad (holy war). Each Muslim should ready for a jihad against this and be ready for his religion if there is a need for him to sacrifice himself for Islam and his belief.}Taliban spokesman Abdul Hai Muttmain said: "If a country or group violates our country, we will not forget our revenge."He would not say how the militia would retaliate. Bin Laden has been living in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban since 1996.

rshowalter - 09:48am Sep 15, 2001 EST (#9085 of 9096)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Lockerbie father urges caution

"The father of a victim of the Lockerbie disaster has written to Tony Blair urging caution over reprisals for the US terror attacks. John Mosey, one of the most prominent members of the Lockerbie support group, UK Families Flight 103, has written to the Prime Minister in the wake of his pledging support to whatever action America decided to pursue. Mr Mosey, of Malvern, Worcestershire, says that "the civilised world" must support the US - but urges care so that more innocent people are not hurt. His daughter Helga, 19, was one of the 270 people murdered when Pan Am Flight 103 was blown out of the skies over Lockerbie on December 21, 1988. In his letter Mr Mosey said: "Clearly the civilised world has to support the United States in taking action to root out this network of evil. "But I beg you to remember that my daughter and the other 269 murdered at Lockerbie were undeniably victims of a reprisal against aggressive American foreign policies either in the Gulf in 1988 or against Tripoli earlier. "The utmost care must be taken that whatever path is eventually pursued is successful and does not harm innocent people thus producing another batch of terrorists. "We must find a better way of dealing with our international differences than simply picking up a bigger stick with which to beat the other guys."Mr Mosey also speaks of his sadness over the atrocities and of his solidarity with the victims.

rshowalter - 09:48am Sep 15, 2001 EST (#9086 of 9096)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Muslims "face racial harassment"

"As investigators hunt for suspects in the terrorist attacks on the US, there are fears people may be questioned simply because they look `Muslim'. "I'm very worried about what's going to be done in the name of security," Kevin Johnson, a racial profiling and immigration expert at the University of California, says. Johnson said he expects "blunt stereotyping and shaking down" of people who appear Middle Eastern even though "it's blatantly illegal". About a dozen travellers of Middle Eastern descent were detained at two New York airports on Thursday, only to be cleared later of any connection with the terrorist attacks. It is illegal for law officers to target someone based on ethnic appearance. Courts have also historically ensured that foreign nationals are guaranteed the same civil rights as US citizens. Nevertheless, officers are under intense pressure to track down potential conspirators and "they can decide to heck with the due process rights of these people, we might be on to something," said Christine DeConcini, of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. "I'm all in favour of getting leads, but people's civil liberties and civil rights need to be protected. I don't want to hear that they're ransacking house after house," she said. Arab-Americans, Muslim and others groups have reported harassment and violence since the attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon. Most of that has come from other Americans.

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