A LONG AND DIFFICULT WAR TO WIN (World Journal, San Francisco)
A new kind of terrorism has emerged, writes the World Journal, a Chinese language daily headquartered in Taiwan with its own editorial and publishing base in San Francisco. It's leaders are like "godfathers," subject to no one nation, mobilizing their own forces, determined to change the world according to their own ideas rather than a single ideology. Above all, they want to root out "the poison of Western civilization." Quoting from the book "Islam and Democracy" by Fatima Mermissi, the World Journal summarizes the terrorist mindset: "They (the U.S.) use bombs to teach us lessons, they destroy our potential, invade our lives, steal our markets, take control of our resources." The United States suffered a "serious insult" through the bombings of its embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam and President Clinton has now declared war on the New Terrorism. But the war will be difficult to win and will last a long time.
PR COUP FOR BIN LADEN (Cape Times, Cape Town)
The missile strike on Bin Laden's camps in Afghanistan "amplified his call to Muslims around the world for 'jihad' against the U.S.," writes Tony Karon, whose column appears weekly in the Cape Times of South Africa. "For the self-styled holy warrior, it was the sort of publicity you simply can't buy. From Pakistan to the Philippines, Cairo to Cape Town, believers who'd never even heard of Bin Laden, let alone embraced his particular interpretation of Islam, now heard him lionized as a heroic mujahideen fighter targeted by a superpower that enjoys very little goodwill in the Islamic world...
"Military academies teach that war is the continuation of politics by other means. If politics is the search for allies, the U.S. missiles the strikes have handed Osama Bin Laden a significant victory."
AMERICANS NOT WELCOME IN PAKISTAN (News International, Karachi)
The U.S. strike is "the most dangerous development for the safety and security of U.S. citizens all over the world," according to Pakistani security officials, reports the News International Pakistan. The strikes were strongly condemned during Friday prayers in mosques all over Pakistan where more than 1000 Sunni madressah (religious schools) of Pakistan are a hotbed of anti-U.S. feeling, with religious youth openly calling for 'practical steps' to avenge the U.S. military action.
It will be a long time, the newspaper concludes, before the Americans -- who abandoned Pakistan after a stern travel advisory from the State Department -- would return to their normal business.
AMERICAN TWO-SIDEDNESS FUELS ARAB/MUSLIM PARANOIA (Ash Sharq al-Awsat, London)
What fuels global terrorism, writes Khalid Qashtini in the As-Sharq al-Awsat, an Arab-language daily based in London, is a combination of derision and hatred for the U.S. People all over the world hail American love of freedom but wonder why America persisted with slavery even after European nations had abandoned it. Too many contradictions of this sort foster negative feelings towards the U.S. among Africans, Arabs and Muslims. "Where" they ask, "did (Iraqi leader) Saddam Hussein come from? The Americans. Who egged him on to attack Kuwait? The Americans. Who got him out of Kuwait? The Americans. Who wants to overthrow him now? The Americans."
Paranoia about America is driven by America's affinity for fascist regimes during the Cold War, and its continuing application of a double standard -- selling weapons to certain states and then punishing them for using them; giving grants to foreign universities but grabbing the best students for themselves; moaning about the destruction of the environment but refusing to limit use of fossil fuels.
Washington has created a globalized world and world terrorism is now the price it is paying, the author concludes.
RELIGIOUS PARTIES REBORN THANKS TO MISSILE STRIKES (Pakistan Link, Sacramento)
Pakistan's religious parties have gained a new lease on life in the wake of U.S. missile attacks on neighboring Afghanistan. Last May they fell into disarray when the government carried out nuclear tests -- much of their public support came from criticizing the government for being a U.S. stooge. Now the strikes have given them a new holy cause to fight for -- and another excuse to browbeat liberal elements in the government.
At the same time, Pakistan's economy has suffered more damage as a result of the strikes than any other country. With over 1,000 U.S. and foreign officials leaving the country, there is little hope of foreign investors venturing into the market.
AMERICA TOO DIVERSE TO PRODUCE AN ANTI-MUSLIM CONSENSUS (As-Sharq al-Awsat, London)
There is no question there are people in the West who are trying, for their own special reasons, to create a clash between America and the Muslim world, writes Zain Abideen al-Rakkabi, a regular commentator for Ash Sharq al-Ausat. The clash with the Muslim world will be primarily military and economic rather than people-to-people. America is far too diverse to produce an anti-Muslim consensus among its multi-ethnic population. Unfortunately, however, America also has a tradition of going to war as a result of decisions made by a tiny number of people at the top -- as, for example, when President Wilson personally got America involved in World War I.
U.S. DOCTRINE OF MIGHT MAKES RIGHT (Times of India, New Delhi)
The Times of India worries about its own government's failure to see the enormous dangers inherent in U.S. missile strikes. The paper sees this action as part of a U.S. attempt to establish a doctrine that the unilateral use of force is appropriate so long as the United States believes the targets might one day be used against its own citizens -- in other words, that might is right. India cannot afford to sit back and watch but must take the lead in opposing such acts. This is not just a matter of sentiment or morality but a question of national security. Great power status comes not so much from nuclear bombs as from defending one's national interest.
PHILIPPINE MILITARY ON ALERT FOR TERRORIST SIGHTINGS (Philippine News, San Francisco)
Police in the southern Mindanao area of the Philippines are distributing photos of Osama bin Laden to all police precincts and units in Davao City. According to Chief Inspector Archie Gamboa, the 4200 person force has been alerted to the suspected terrorist's presence in the region,
An intelligence report places bin Laden in Mindinao in 1993, working with an international Islamic orgnization that provideds humanitairan relief services. However, sources concede that another man, Mohammad Jama Khalifa, director of an Islamic-based relief organization, could have been mistaken for bin Laden. It seems bin Laden's Saudi wife is the sister of Khalifa's Saudi wife. Khalida reportedly has two Filipino wives as well.
One organization of Muslim Moro women in the region has expressed fears that reports of Bin Laden sightings might trigger "renewed attacks" agaisnt Moro communities by government troops under the guise of pursuing suspected terrorists.
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