Geez, I wish you GUESTS would fill in the blank with some name, just so that the rest of us can refer to you in a slightly handier way than by saying "GUEST who posted on 01-Apr-02 - 01:02 PM". But until then...

GUEST who posted on 01-Apr-02 - 01:02 PM: Yes, there are several differences. In Afghanistan, the US is not intentionally targeting civilian non-combatants, nor does the US make a habit of targeting them in general (there have been cases where miscalculations and other mistakes have resulted in innocents being bombed, but again those were not intentional). Afghan civilians were forewarned by the US that attacks on terrorist hideouts were forthcoming, and were advised to evacuate. The US has offered humanitarian aid to the region for those who are not actively seeking to kill Americans, no matter what their sentiments about the situation might be.

Please, let's not forget that Afghanistan's government isn't telling us everything either! They have a political agenda, just as the US government does... just as Palestine's does... just as Israel's does. Each of those governments has sent young people off to kill and sometimes to die for its political agenda, just as a bazillion governments around them and before them. Personally, I prefer the political agenda that promotes and defends human rights for all to the agenda that declares that any segment of the population does not have the right to exist.

By the way, please note that Ariel Sharon (no relation! *G*) has declared that Israel is at war against terrorism, not against Palestine. Sound familiar? The US didn't declare war against Afghanistan, either, but against terrorism.

Sharon