Letter: Words similar to bin Laden’s

Monday, March 17, 2003 | 8:52 a.m.

Read Executive Editor Mike O'Callaghan's March 13 column. Make the comparison between his statements and those of Osama bin Laden. It was reported that when bin Laden declared war on the U.S., they asked him: What about innocent civillians? He replied: They pay taxes to support their government's actions. They asked: What about Muslim Americans? He replied: They are guilty, too.

In his column, O'Callaghan criticizes former President Carter for saying that war's weapons must distinguish between combatant and noncombatants. Like bin Laden, O'Callghan justified killing the wife, the child, the cab driver, the Imam of the mosque, etc., because they all, directly or indirectly, serve or help that potential "terrorist" or combatant to exist, so kill them all. Well, if you are correct, Mr. O'Callaghan, does that mean bin Laden's reasoning was correct, too? Your statement is a disgrace to objective journalism and human ethics.

KHALIL AMRIKANI

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