Monday October 8, 2001

Some say bombings were unnecessary, but others support whatever action is needed

Reactions from the UA community to the U.S. airstrikes against al Qaeda centers in Afghanistan run the gamut from support to protest.

"We could take care of this in a very peaceful way," said Imam Omar Shahin, director of the Islamic Center of Tucson, 901 E. First St.

"Afghan people have nothing. They don't deserve to be bombed by America," Shahin said. "Two wrongs don't make a right. Killing innocent people is not acceptable."

Shahin said the United States is not reacting to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in an appropriate way.

The United States should put forth whatever evidence it has that Osama bin Laden was responsible for the attack, and the Muslim people - or the people of any court in the world - will punish him if he is responsible, Shahin said.

"If you have strong evidence, why keep it a secret?" Shahin said. "Why not show the whole world why (Osama bin Laden) deserves to be bombed? (Muslims) are interested in killing him - if he is guilty - more than anything else because he gave us a bad image."

Shahin said he was concerned because it took U.S. officials six years to convict and punish Timothy McVeigh of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, while U.S. officials blamed Osama bin Laden for the bombing one hour after it had happened.

"This is a disastrous situation," Shahin said. "We are worried about those troops who are there and about to go there and about Afghan people."

Students also have divided opinions about whether the United States should stage airstrikes.

"Personally I don't want us to be killing people overseas, but I don't see another option," said Sheila Bapat, vice president of University of Arizona Young Democrats.

While Bapat said she does not support airstrikes in Afghanistan, she recommends alternatives, such as a freeze on al Qaeda's financial assets in the United States, a move which is already in effect.

"I've been struggling with how I feel about this," Bapat said.

The Young Democrats are a member of the Progressive Alliance, a conglomeration of liberal groups that advocate women's rights, peace, acceptance of diversity, animal rights and environmental issues.

The Alliance has planned a protest for 9 a.m. today on the UA Mall.

However, others are supportive of airstrikes against Afghanistan.

"I support airstrikes, groundstrikes, whatever it takes to root out these terrorists," said Manuel Espinoza, co-chair of the Arizona College Republicans.

The Arizona College Republicans "support 100 percent" the actions of the president and the Congress, Espinoza said.

Espinoza said he opposes the protests planned for this morning.

"I think (the protest) is absolutely absurd. While (protestors) have a right to speak their own mind, I think it's inconsiderate. I don't know what it would take for these people to get a grip on reality," Espinoza said. "Maybe it would take a plane flown into their own house."

Jessica Bortolini, the president of UA College Republicans, agreed.

"We have over 5,000 people that were killed in America three weeks ago," Bortolini said. "I don't understand how we can just let that go, to say we could let 5,000 people be killed and not do anything about it.

"They didn't protest when something happened to Tim McVeigh," she added.

One student in the Progressive Alliance said U.S. use of international organizations, such as the International Court of Justice, would be the most effective way to stop terrorism and punish those responsible for the attack in New York.

Geography graduate student Dereka Rushbrook said bombing Afghanistan is not an effective way to put an end to future terrorist attacks.

"Innocent civilians are being targeted yet again," Rushbrook said. "Even if (Afghan civilians) aren't explicit targets, the civilians end up paying the price, just like in New York."

Bortolini disagreed, and said she had no concerns that Afghan civilians were safe, as the United States is only targeting military areas.

Another student said current U.S. actions would not stop terrorism.

"It's devastating that people died (in the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks)," said Rachel Wilson, a psychology graduate student and Progressive Alliance member. "Those people who died deserve the U.S. to take action to prevent it from happening again. Military action will only exacerbate the problem."

Wilson said that killing al Qaeda leaders would only prompt other terrorists to take actions against the United States.

Espinoza disagreed.

He said putting an end to terrorists would be the only way to ensure that future generations do not have to face the threat of retaliation or new acts of terrorism.