>>If the report is true, could it be viewed that the attacks were not terrorism, per se, but an act of self-defence ? In the event that the Afghan government (or any other, for that matter) had issued threats of unprovoked military action against the US, would it have been acceptable for the US to take action to weaken that government - including attacks against that countries military & financial centres ?
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>Len,
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>The fact that information is coming out that shows that the attacks have been being planned for 4 years would mean that the Afghan government must have one hell of an oracle on their intellegence force.
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>Are you making this point to stir things up? I just came back from NYC and if you saw what I saw and spoke to the people I met I don't believe you ever would have posed this question.
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>Renoir

I think there are many questions that need answering before more people start dying - and your President has admitted that this is going to involve deaths of more Americans in the process, it's not just a one way thing. Surely you want to minimise the number of additional dead Americans, or doesn't it matter how many more of your countrymen die.

Your government is also wanting to use other countries military, those countries should be asking questions before putting lives of their nationals on the line.

It may have been just one man behind it all, but don't fall into the trap of believing that eliminating him, or even ousting the Taliban government will solve anything.

Given the immense failure of you security services of the last 4 years, can you guarantee that an inappropriate response at this time will not lead to another atrocity in your own country.

The attack may have been 4 years in the planning & dry runs may have taken place, but that is no reason to believe that it would have taken place. Your armed forces have done many training exercises & have plans for use of nuclear weapons, does that mean that you are going to use them or just be ready in the event that you need to use them.

To a large extent, yes, the comments are made to stir things up - to make people think about things. If some of those things are immensely uncomfortable to you, that does not mean they should not be discussed. There are many people in the world who believe that American actions & attitudes are to some extent the reason behind the hatred, and this comes from many people who agree with the actions you are now prepared to take. If you close your eyes & ears to these views, & use specious arguments such as if I'd been there "I don't believe you ever would have posed this question", then you will never get the peace you claim to be looking for.