My condolences and prayers go out to all those who lost their loved ones in the tragic events of September 11th. I, like everyone else, was devastated, shocked, upset and angered over the terrorist attacks. The pride of New York, the Twin Towers, are now gone, and the symbol of America?s military might has been severely damaged. We all want the perpetrators of this heinous crime brought to justice, but let not our emotions overtake our sound judgment in this matter. America, in its quest for ?enduring freedom? has to proceed with extreme caution, a moot point now that the bombing on Afghanistan has taken place.

In response to what George Amin wrote in his article ?The Story of the Taliban in Afghanistan? in the September 24th edition of the Targum, one would think that all the Taliban have done in the country is spread terror. That is not even remotely true. In situations as delicate as this, where the facts are few, one MUST consider all information with the utmost objectivity. While some people, whether it is because they don?t want to see Islam prosper or due to bad experiences in the past, will tell horrific stories of the new government, it must also be known that the Taliban have for the most part, made Afghanistan a safer place to live.

Mr. Amin?s article doesn?t quote any sources to back his points; it seems that his remarks against the Taliban are just his opinions about them. Amin is right in relating the origin of the Taliban, as it is widely believed that Pakistan and its Intelligence Agency (ISI) funded and supported them in the early 90?s. Since then, the Taliban have gone onto acquire control of approximately 95% of Afghanistan. While it may have seemed, when the Taliban first took control of the country, that they were committing acts of injustice, Afghanistan has improved as a society in which to live after their rise to power. On various eyewitness accounts of the conditions in Afghanistan, there are reports that there is no oppression of women and children, women can work and there are schools for them also. Unfortunately, everyone believes what the Western media relates when the vast majority of its information is not correct. In regards to Islam and Muslims, the West is and has been extremely ignorant and, I feel, do not even WANT to be educated. All thanks to the wonderful media.

Back to the Taliban. Raza Khan, a doctor on a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan from Canada related his experiences during his stay in the war-torn country. He said that women were freely shopping in stores without escorts (their immediate male relatives), many women did not have their faces covered, and houses? windows were not painted black as well as the presence of women nurses and doctors working in clinics and hospitals. The Women?s Gyne and Maternity Hospital of Kabul is entirely dedicated to the complete care of women. Another hospital in Kabul, the Indira Gandhi Children?s Hospital also takes care of women. Schools are open to women as well throughout the country but because most of them before the Taliban took power were not segregated, they were shut down. Islam forbids free mixing of men and women in any atmosphere; in schools, one is in constant contact and communication with members of the opposite sex. Now, there are ALL women schools teaching subjects relevant for women?s roles in their society. A woman is not supposed to go out and fight, thus there is no need of those subjects being taught.

As far as living safely, the Taliban have abolished rapes, prostitutes, robberies and murders. People can travel safely even at night. There are no TV?s, photography, gambling, and any other ?immoral? activity in Afghanistan. I hardly think a person is deprived if the above-mentioned activities are not available. With regards to TV and its ill effects, I would highly suggest reading an excellent book by Jeffrey Mander, The Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television. As for the other prohibited activities, I doubt anyone can find fault with living in a society free from those evils, where everyone?s life and respect is in order.

However, instead of focusing on how to alleviate the troubles of the public in Afghanistan, a public where 7.5 million people are expected to starve this year, America and its cronies, made a big deal on destroying the Bahmiyan statues. Statues, about which very few people even knew, let alone cared. But, since it was the evil Taliban intent on destroying them, a big ruckus had to be created. It is very sad to see Muslim countries siding with the Kuffar against their fellow Muslims, but who can say a word when there are dollars coming in? Money is the root of all evil, how true indeed. Anyway, the offers that were being made to the Taliban to not destroy those statues, couldn?t those offers be made to the Afghani civilians??? Of course not, because the world could care less about what happens there; it just doesn?t want to see an Islamic government be established. The Taliban are not a perfect government, no government is, but they have limited resources with which to work, especially after eliminating all opium in the country, a fact stated by the United Nations. Any Muslim knows that involvement with drugs and intoxication of any kind is strictly forbidden in Islam, and if that means that one doesn?t have the ?dough? rolling in, then so be it. Pleasing Allah is much more important than fulfilling our worldly desires.

The complaints one hears coming out of Afghanistan maybe because people are not free to do whatever they want anymore. God forbid morality is ?enforced? upon them. As Muslims our goal is clearly stated in the Qur?an, ?And I have not created the Jinn and the humans except that they worship Me? (51:56). Worshipping Allah does not entail involving ourselves with anything that pleases us; the road to Paradise is full of obstacles, it is those who pass this obstacle course who are truly successful.

Before turning to blame Taliban and their protection of Osama bin Laden, who incidentally has NEVER been proved to carry out any attack, look at everything with an open mind. America is an egocentric and ethnocentric country, which considers only its rulings, policies, and cultures as the standard. Any other country?s policies/actions are subject to question and if need be, elimination. I don?t blame the Taliban at all for keeping Osama, because, as they say, no proof has been presented against him. If America is so sure that he is involved, what?s stopping them from coming out with the proof?? Or is it that there is no proof against him?? It seems that Osama has become a scapegoat for every terrorist action anywhere in the world. They just want to get rid of him regardless of whether he?s responsible or not. Where?s the justice now??? Everything America stood for has been thrown out the window and it?s because of the US?s own shortcomings. So much for the most powerful country in the world, it couldn?t even save itself.

My question is that by attacking Afghanistan and killing innocent men, women, and children won?t America be responsible for the same crime as the terrorists? Or is it that because it?s America carrying out the act, it?s ?for the betterment of the world?? Who made America the world?s policeman? If you are truly concerned about justice being done, then go to Afghanistan and see for yourselves the condition of the people there and then tell me whether this will be justice, or another injustice for which America will be responsible. As a quote I read in an email says ?Oppression anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.? Just ask the Middle East.