quote:
Originally posted by Gritsucker:
dmm - That's the kind of blood-soaked solution we should be trying to avoid. Why should civilians who just happened to be of the same religion and similar nationalities of the terrorists have to pay the ultimate price for the actions of extremists?
Well, I won't try to defend it on moral grounds, since it is hideous. I told you it was a "schizo" response.
However, let me ask you: If a Western (US/Europe/Can/Aus/etc.) government were trying to shelter a "freedom fighter" after he had just killed 5000 civilians in another country, what would be the response from their population? I think we all know the answer.
If the Afghan people do not force their government to hand over bin Laden's entire organization, then they are NOT innocent bystanders. At that point, they will have joined the war against the US. Aiding and abetting a felon is itself a felony.
Telling the police that you will kill anyone coming into your house to search for a criminal, and that you will kill your neighbors if they try to help, makes you a criminal yourself and a legitimate target for police snipers -- especially if you have been harboring said criminal for years and know that he is in your basement right now.