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Press-U.S.-Attacks /GNR/
Dailies call for careful analysis, identification of perpetrators
of US attacks
Tehran, Sept 15, IRNA -- Two English-language dailies on Saturday
commented on the recent devastating terror assaults on New York and
Washington as well as the series of crises and consequences following
the catastrophe.
The papers called for a careful analysis of the whole situation
in order to reach to the root causes which led to the sad tragedy, as
well as identification of perpetrators of the catastrophe before any
retaliation is made on the part of US.
`Iran News' in its editorial condemned the terrorist attacks in
the U.S. as "blind terrorism" but warned that the "emotional reactions
of the American people against Muslims and Arabs in the last few days
are "blind justice", which will only add fuel to fire.
Washington must remember that "revengeful acts will detract from
the depth and magnitude of the event," it pointed out adding that
"blind revenge" will create a distortion, since the real perpetrator
is still to be traced.
"Emotional reactions will force the US government to react
hastily," noted the daily, but warned that such an attitude will only
prove to be a short-lived tranquilizer.
In the long run, the paper added, "this panacea would not uproot
terrorism; it would only bring a momentary relief to the shocked and
terrorized public."
If at all terrorism is to be completely uprooted, then the paper
called for an "international collective will" encompassing world
nations under the auspices of the U.N., which the daily believes,
should resort to an action that would once and for all uproot
terrorism.
Last but not the least, the whole question is: "How is it possible
that a relatively large number of educated people in the west would
prematurely and with prejudice, attack Muslims?" or "why would they
act according to what they merely believe to be just," it asked in
conclusion.
`Tehran Times' likewise condemned the terrorist attacks on US
innocent civilians but warned that blindly blaming Muslims will not
solve the problem.
The anti-Islamic rhetorics in the west, following the crisis, is
"meant to justify repression of Muslims and the entire Islamic
movement," added the article in its opinion column.
It would do well if the Americans and US officials look "inside,
instead of outside their country, for the roots and causes of this
catastrophe," before resorting to any action.
"It is true that there are certain people who call themselves
Muslims and who have no understanding of the Islamic law."
But to link these people with Islam or the Islamic movement is
totally "unjustifiable", hit out he daily.
To illustrate this point, it said, "whenever a Jew or Christian
commit some heinous act based on a misinterpretation of their
religion, all Christians or Jews are not condemned by the Western
media or even by the Islamic media."
As for Washington's accusations against Osama Bin Laden, who is
currently based in Afghanistan and protected by the Taliban, the
daily said the irony of the whole situation is that "U.S. actually
assisted Bin Laden's faction during their war against the Soviets and
helped the Taliban take power," reminded the paper.
However, "whether Bin Laden will be determined to have been
involved, it will nevertheless be hard to accept that he could do this
without accomplices within the US, just as it will be difficult to
accept that he has the resources to carry out an operation of this
scale." On Bin Laden's wealth, the daily asked how it is possible
that his money cannot be traced by anybody.
The daily noted that all this is reminiscent of the media coverage
immediately after the Oklahoma City bombing, recalling that the US
media at that time "was promoting anti-Islamic hatred. Muslims were
attacked, and one was even killed in Oklahoma. Two days later, when it
was discovered that the main suspect was Timothy McVeigh, a white
Christian, white US citizen, the media stopped its anti-Muslim
rhetoric but offered no apologies, although their actions could be
regarded as hate crimes."
Following the recent US attacks, it is regrettable to note that
the same kind of incitement of hatred is being promoted by the Western
media, criticized the daily, denouncing the attacks against mosques
and Muslims in the US.
The terrorist attacks on the US were so precise and coordinated
that "it is hard to believe that a small group or even several groups
could carry them out," wrote the article adding that "an incredible
mount of planning and training would be required to carry out such an
attack.
"Add to that, level of secrecy required to avoid detection and the
skill and sheer luck required to successfully carry out the operation.
"If the US, CIA, NSA and other intelligence organizations boast
of having such a complex and far-reaching surveillance network, how is
it that that "such an act could have been planned and carried out
without some advance knowledge leaking out," wrote the daily.
This implies that some internal elements must have been involved
in the act in order to promote their own agenda and interests. "After
all, who would benefit from such an action?" it asked.
But it assured, it is definitely "not the international Islamic
movement which would benefit from this recent terrorist attack, since
slamic countries throughout the world are currently conducting their
affairs through democratic means."
It praised President Khatami of Iran and many other Islamic
leaders for advocating Islamic democracy, pointing out that the
Islamists do not want to be regarded as undemocratic by the rest of
the world.
"Terrorist acts only serve to isolate and demonize Islamists and
all Muslims and are therefore abhorred and condemned," emphasized
the daily.
The only ones to benefit from any action that would serve to
discredit and demonize the Islamic movement are the Zionists and
certain anti-Islamic elements in the West, hit out the daily,
referring to the "stinging defeat" meted out to them at the recent
Durban conference against racism.
It noted that representatives of the US and the Zionist regime
walked out of the conference after delegates began discussing the
possibility of "equating Zionism with racism in the final resolution."
Considering the Durban Conference as a "turning point" for the
Palestinian cause, any "terrorist actions at this critical point of
time would only serve to wipe out all the recent gains," wrote the
daily.
All said and done, "it seems that all of this anti-Islamic
rhetoric is meant to justify repression of Muslims and the entire
Islamic movement. Perhaps Americans and US officials should look
inside instead of outside their country for the roots and causes of
this catastrophe." it concluded.
FH/HM
End
::irna 13:36