Injustice does not justify attack

I refer to Donna K. Woodward's article Americans still ignorant of Arabs, Muslims (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 18, 2001).

It seems there are people that always see it as their role to side with the poor and the weak. Unfortunately, in their haste to act or speak up they sometimes bend the truth and promote a negative attitude. One example is an editorial from Metro TV, which offered its explanation of the Sept. 11 attacks on U.S. as due to injustice and poverty. While denouncing the act of terrors, it repeatedly said that the root of terror is injustice and poverty. It asserted that sometimes terror was the only weapon for the weak and poor. This statement is very dangerous. It can offer a justification for an act of terror. It also is inaccurate. For example, the bombs at the churches in Jakarta. What was the cause the perpetrators wanted to fight for?

Another one of these people is Donna K. Woodward, who bitterly criticized U.S. government responses to the attack, saying the words that came out of the leaders' mouths were: "Revenge! Retaliation!" I have spent countless hours watching the events on television and I think the response from U.S. leaders so far is reasonable and measured given the severity of the attacks. And to those people that call on the United States not to retaliate, get real, there has never been in history a powerful nation, not to mention a superpower, that would not retaliate when it had been attacked at vital places with such severity.

She offered her explanation for the attack as: "The acts were directed against America as patron of Israel's violations to her Arab neighbors". I believe the terrorists' gripes were more than that. Osama bin Laden (assuming he is responsible or involved in the attack) was bitterly upset at U.S. troops' presence in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. He also claimed responsibility for the killing of U.S. troops in Somalia, which were there on a peaceful mission.

The withdrawal of the United States in conflicts in Somalia, Rwanda and other hot spots in Africa as a result of the attack may have resulted in thousands of casualties, which might otherwise could have been prevented. Osama is also at odds with many pro-Palestinian governments in the Middle East. Most, if not all, of his affiliated organizations are against negotiations with Israel, including the peace process championed by Arafat.

One observer said that the other thing he loathed about Western countries (not only America) is their lifestyle, including the movies, music entertainment and especially the pornography that comes with it.

I am afraid that by using the Sept. 11 attack to criticize America's deeds and policies could create a danger of encouraging more people to resort to terrorism. In addition, the critics would not be effective because they would only upset the Americans. It would be better to criticize America's policies in other contexts.

SINDRA WIDJAYA

Jakarta