In 1998, in retaliation for the bombing of two American
 Embassies,  Pres Clinton ordered a Cruise missile attack to try
 to kill Bin Laden. Bin Laden was not at the site of the attack,
 he was missed by several hours, but a number of terrorist
 trainees, and the Pakistani Intelligence agents training them,
 were killed. That attack cost millions, and was widely derided
 by republicans for blowing up tents in the desert.

 Last week the CIA blew up a building in Pakistan, where a top Al
 Qaeda member was supposed to be. He wasn't there. Eighteen local
 civilians were killed, among them women and children. Along
 with the bystanders were 4 significan figures in Al Qaeda.

 This attack may not have cost as much as the '98 cruise missile
 attack, but it was still expensive, and the '98 attack killed
 only the guilty.

 In the end, both attacks were worth it. In my opinion.

 Yes, it cost millions, maybe a million for every terrorist
 killed in the '98 attack, perhaps more. But what do you think
 it's costing for each terrorist killed in today's war? In
 Vietnam it may not have cost as much per fatality, but adjusted
 for inflation, and counting only actual enemies, I would bet it
 cost as much.

 It cost a lot to kill some terrorists in '98, but you have to
 kill them when you can, even if it's expensive.

 Last week women and children were killed, but the answer to that
 is, don't associate with terrorists. Those terrorists would not
 hesitate to kill innocent women and children. In today's paper I
 read that over 40 people were killed by terrorists when they
 were forced to use side roads because of the downing of an
 American helicopter along the main road.

 The attack on terrorists in '98 was justified, the attack on
 terrorists last week was justified, in my opinion.

 The big difference, the republicans played politics with it in
 '98, and made a big joke out of it. There may be critism about
 the attack last week, but nobody's laughing about it.



BOB KLAHN bob.klahn{at}sev.org   http://home.toltbbs.com/bobklahn

... Our ancestors lived in ages of iron and steel,we live in the age of sand.
 * Silver Xpress V4.5/P [Reg]
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5