World war

A third world war!

I was sitting on the bus on my way home when I first heard it on the radio. The world Trade Center in New York had collapsed because two airplanes had crashed into them. Many people died that day…over 6000 (as we now know) Just a few hours later George Bush went out on TV and promise retaliation, against Usama Bin Laden (a well known terrorist) who got pointed out as the leader of the Terrorist-organization Al-Qanda. These are my thoughts about the terrorist attack in New York, and the war that is now going on in Afghanistan..

My first thought was that I wanted the U.S. to get revenge. And I saluted President Bush when he said that he wanted "retaliation" =(revenge but in a nicer word). Weeks and weeks passed and it seemed like nothing would happen. And I don’t feel angry any more, I feel sad and calm. And it’s now that I start to think, is it really right to bomb The people of Afghanistan? Isn’t it right to keep them as safe as the ones in U.S? It’s not the Afghanistan People which is the problem, but the terrorists in that country. The first U.S. attack started 7 Okt against Afghanistan. And suddenly reality stroke people, now the peace is over and it’s war.

Usama Bin Laden goes out in TV and speaks about the US attack.

-This is a war against Islam, not the Terrorist, Bin Laden says..

Retaliation
The war is now going on in Afghanistan, and several civilians have died. And almost all around the world letters with the biological weapon Anthrax have arrived to politicians and journalists. This war is now spreading in a dangerous way. But is it right to bomb Afghanistan? I believe that you must go on strong against the Terrorists and bomb their military bases. But it’s not right to bomb the people! How are we going get the 6000 dead people in USA back, by killing 6000 people in Afghanistan? Is this proceeding into a war with USA and it’s allies against terrorist organizations all over the world.

I’ve asked some children and adults

I have now shared my thoughts about this war with you, but what does other persons in different age groups think?
I wrote 3 questions and asked 3 different age group separately, because I wanted to find out what Swedish people know and what we think about this war. These are the answers I’ve got.

Elin 10 years old.
Maria 30 years old.
Gunilla 53 years old.

1.Do you know where the war is going on?

Elin - Yes, It’s in Afghanistan. The U.S. is down there. Killing lots of people.
Maria –In Afghanistan.
Gunilla – In Afghanistan.

2.Why do you think this war is proceeding?

Elin -Because Afghanistan wants power over U.S.
Maria –Because of Usama Bin Laden’s attack against the World Trade Center, and I still don’t know why he did that.
Gunilla –Because Usama Bin Laden destroyed the World Trade Center, and because U.S. helped Pakistan in a war against Afghanistan, why I don’t know, maybe because Pakistan was right?

3.Who do you blame for this war?

Elin – I blame Usama Bin Laden, but not the people who live in Afghanistan
Maria – Usama Bin Laden, and I believe that it’s not Americas fault that there is war down in Afghanistan, they are just the victims of a horrible Terrorist attack.
Gunilla – Usama Bin Laden and his terrorists, but I also think that Irak has something to do with it. But I don’t know.

Not one person that I have asked said anything about the U.S. treatment of the people in afghanistan. And no one seems to blame America for this war. Not that I have heard of anyway.
But are these people right?
Is it right to blame Afghanistan…or America?
Or could you just accuse the situation?