What does this international coalition against terrorism mean? A coalition of governments or a coalition of people? The US President and his more articulate friend, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, claim that those who hate the US are minimal in number. The CNN and BBC say that those who protest are the 'vocal minority.' God only knows how they counted the number of people who are against it and for it.

To me, it's quite obvious from the protests taken out by the people in the Muslim countries that most of them are against the attacks. Yes, only a minority takes to the streets. Always. Did all of us who were agitated by the arrest of Karunanidhi in Chennai vocally protest against it? Did we all fight the so-called Kargil war? And, what about the problems of inadequate supply of water and electricity? Did we all voice our concern in public?

So much for my justification that a majority of the Muslims are against the attack on Afghanistan. It should be obvious even to a nitwit. The reason why they should be against it is also simple. WHERE IS THE PROOF? Clever propaganda and official machinery can hide the basic facts - especially if an all-powerful nation is waging the war. But, doesn't the discerning mind always want to know the reason? When you are waging a one-sided war of such huge proportions, what proof could be too sensitive to reveal?

I just don't understand why this war is being waged. Could this be Buddha's way of getting at the people who destroyed his statues? I wonder!

The September 11th attacks are condemnable, no doubt. But I'm more worried about that something which could make a man or a group of men sacrifice their lives for nothing. Those who drove the planes into the tall buildings must have known that their cause would cost more lives - that of their own brothers for whom they are fighting. And, more than everything, it was their own lives they were losing, knowingly. What sort of frustration could have driven them to such desperation? Why that anger, and against whom? Surely it can't just be the poor man's jealousy of the rich? But, is it not the US intelligence and foresight that was responsible for arming these "Students of Islam" for the war against the "infidel" Russians. Why is there no word of regret on the daily violence that the Kashmiris have been facing for over 12 years from this same gang of militants?

"Wait! 12 years?"

Yes! Exactly since the time the Russian forces walked out of Afghanistan, since Communism's downslide began, since Germany came together, since the USSR began readying itself for a split.

As I see it, the common enemy now is Islamic fundamentalism. It will be till China is ready for yet another cold war with the US. We'll know it when the CNNs, Times and Asia Weeks of the world call foul again! Get ready China!